In:

International Journal of Clinical Practice

Author:

R. A. Stein

Particularly over the past few decades, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have provided insights into the dynamic complexity of the host–pathogen interface. By late 2012, at least 219 human viral species were recognised, and three to four new human viruses are discovered annually (1). Most known and emerging human viruses are zoonoses (2,3). The natural reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens often remain elusive, despite extensive research efforts that sometimes span decades. For example, even though the first human Ebola virus outbreaks were reported in 1976 (4,5), direct evidence that bats might be the natural reservoir came only in 2005 (6), and the virus itself has still not been isolated from bats (7–9).

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