Microbiology Today: Halting Epidemics

07 February 2017

The February issue of Microbiology Today is now online. This issue focuses on the many public health and research aspects that need to be considered when there is an outbreak of a disease. Epidemics can impact populations at both local and global scales, and require effective monitoring and containment to curb the potential spread of a disease.

Nicholas Loman gives us a front-line perspective of how real-time accelerated clinical and technology trials helped to bring an end to the recent Ebola virus epidemic in Africa. Alongside this article on an emerging disease is one about a disease that has circulated in populations for generations but has still not been eradicated – polio. Oluwapelumi Adeyemi and Nicola Stonehouse provide some perspective on approaches and strategies as we work towards a polio-free world.

Kate Baker has written a piece that considers how epidemics become endemic, with shigellosis infection in men who have sex with men as a model to showcase the complexities involved. Lee Haines and Geraldine Foster then shine a spotlight on a neglected tropical disease, leishmaniasis, which persists in India and the Middle East due to limited resources to curb transmission and increase public understanding of the disease.

Preventing emerging infectious disease in Asia is the focus of Stephen Baker's article, outlining the specific challenges associated with predicting the likely emergence of disease in communities. Finally, the Comment piece by Michael Baron looks at the lessons learned from the successful eradication of the rinderpest virus, and asks the key question – why can’t we do this more often?

The issue also includes the first update from the newly established Early Career Microbiologists' Forum, a roundup on our publishing activities and our regular membership Q&A. There is also information from the Society's policy team on the UK Review on Antimicrobial Resistance and a Schoolzone article on teaching antimicrobial resistance in schools.  

The Current issue of Microbiology Today can be found on our website.