How Infectious Diseases are Linked

There are many infectious diseases around the world, including COVID-19, the flu, HIV, ebola, and more. These diseases are tangled together in a web of similarities. While each disease appears distinct, they share four common characteristics: transmission, adaptation, globalization, and rapid spread. As new diseases emerge and old ones re-emerge they become even more connected.

One primary way infectious diseases are linked is through their shared ways of transmission. Take the flu, COVID-19, and tuberculosis into consideration. Each one of these diseases is spread through something called respiratory droplets, which are spread by sneezing, coughing, and talking. Making their transmission similar, and heightening the susceptibility of others. For instance, if an area has high rates of mono, they may also see higher rates of tuberculosis, because weakened immune systems can easily be susceptible to secondary conditions. Therefore, not only do these diseases transmit in similar ways, but they also cause the transmission of secondary diseases.

Regardless of the way these diseases are caused, they all share the skill to adapt, often enabling them to survive despite the body’s immune system defenses. While the specific adaptations of these diseases can be different, the general strategies are similar. They mutate and multiply, invade the immune system, resist treatment, spread, and host on weaker species. This process can be shown by many diseases, and will most likely continue in future epidemics, but it will make it easier for humans to develop more treatment options.

Infectious diseases are commonly known for their rapid spread throughout species. This can be caused by humans, animals, and even plants in complex transmission routes. The most common ways they rapidly spread is through environmental changes or Zoonotic Diseases. Zoonoses are defined as diseases that are transmitted from species to species. Understanding that infectious diseases are similar in this way play a critical way in determining how epidemics and pandemics, like COVID-19, are spread.

The last way infectious diseases are spread is by globalization. Globalization is the growing connectedness of the world's cultures and economies. This means more travel, which can amplify the infection area of these diseases. Diseases that are seen in one part of the world can easily be spread to another due to globalization. Even the movement of goods and animals can cause species to catch new diseases and spread them. This makes all three previous similarities easier because it allows the disease to be widespread.

As a wrap, infectious diseases are all linked through mechanisms like traveling, different species, adaptation, and widespread. Despite obvious differences, there is always at least one similarity between these diseases. This makes their adaptation easy, but also our adaptation and advancements in medication easy. Knowing how they are linked will help humans in the future by narrowing down the causes of these diseases.

About the Author

Avery is a junior at Northwood High School. She is interested in science and writing so she can build a solid college resume.

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“Appendix A: How Infections Spread | CDC.” Www.cdc.gov, www.cdc.gov/orr/school- preparedness/infection-prevention/appendix-a.html.

Mayo Clinic. “Infectious Diseases - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 18 Feb. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20351173.