Hemoglobinopathy

a blood disorder (such as sickle cell anemia) caused by a genetically determined change in the molecular structure of hemoglobin.

Hemorrhagic fever

a group of diverse, severe epidemic viral infections of worldwide distribution but occurring especially in tropical countries, that are usually transmitted to humans by arthropod bites or contact with virus-infected rodents or monkeys and that share common clinocopathological features (e.g., fever, hemorrhaging, shock, thrombocytopenia, neurological disturbances). Examples are Argentine, Bolivian, and Venezuelan hemorrhagic fevers; chikungunya; Rift Valley fever; and Ebola and Marburg virus diseases.

Heterozygous

having the two genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes different for one or more loci.

HIV disease

the broad spectrum of opportunistic infections and diseases that occur in an individual infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Homozygous

having the two genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes identical for one or more loci.

Host

a person or other living creature, including birds and arthropods, that affords subsistence or lodgment to an infectious agent under natural (as opposed to experimental) conditions.

Humoral immunity

antibody-mediated immunity; one of the mechanisms, using antibodies found in the blood and other body fluids, that the body uses to fight off infections.

Hyperendemic

the condition in which a disease is present in a community at all times and with a high incidence.

Iatrogenic

any consequence of treatment by a physician.

Immunity

that resistance usually associated with the presence of antibodies or cells having a specific action on the microorganism concerned with a particular infectious disease or on its toxin.

Immunization

a process that increases an organism’s reaction to antigen and therefore improves its ability to resist or overcome infection.

Immunocompromised

a condition (caused, for example, by the administration of immunosuppressive drugs or irradiation, malnutrition, aging, or a condition such as cancer or HIV disease) in which an individual’s immune system is unable to respond adequately to a foreign substance.

Immunosuppression

the retardation or cessation of an immune response as a result of, for example, anticancer drugs.

Incidence rate

the number of new cases of a specified disease during a defined period of time divided by the number of persons in a stated population in which the cases occurred.

Front Matter (R1-R30)

Executive Summary (1-18)

1. Introduction (19-22)

2. Spectrum of Microbial Threats (23-52)

3. Factors of Emergence (53-148)

4. Addressing the Threats: Conclusions and Recommendations (149-226)

Epilogue (227-230)

Glossary (231-240)

References (241-276)

Appendix A: Microbial Threats to Health Public Committee Meeting Agendas (277-280)

Appendix B: Syndromic Surveillance (281-312)

Appendix C: Pathogen Discovery, Detection, and Diagnostics (313-330)

Appendix D: Forum on Emerging Infections Membership and Publications, Board on Global Health (331-334)

Appendix E: Computational Modeling and Simulation of Epidemic Infectious Diseases (335-342)

Appendix F: Committee and Staff Biographies (343-352)

Index (353-367)