Émergence de virus nouveaux en Asie : les changements climatiques sont-ils en cause ?

Abstract

Tropical Africa is not the only area where deadly viruses have recently emerged. In South-East Asia severe epidemics of dengue hemorrhagic fever started in 1954 and flu pandemics have originated from China such as the Asian flu (H2N2) in 1957, the Hong-Kong flu (H3N2) in 1968, and the Russian flu (H1N1) in 1977. However, it is especially during the last ten years that very dangerous viruses for mankind have repeatedly developed in Asia, with the occurrence of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever in Saudi Arabia (1995), avian flu (H5N1) in Hong-Kong (1997), Nipah virus encephalitis in Malaysia (1998,) and, above all, the SARS pandemic fever from Southern China (2002). The evolution of these viral diseases was probably not directly affected by climate change. In fact, their emergential success may be better explained by the development of large industry poultry flocks increasing the risks of epizootics, dietary habits, economic and demographic constraints, and negligence in the surveillance and reporting of the first cases.

Multispecies entanglements in the virosphere: Rethinking the Anthropocene in light of the 2019 coronavirus outbreak

“…Nevertheless, we should not underestimate the threat that large-scale artificial environments pose to humans and nonhumans in terms of developing and transmitting infectious diseases, as such areas hold thousands or even millions of farm animals in cramped spaces, often with questionable hygienic standards (Chastel, 2004). These practices are responsible for many zoonotic diseases, for example, by creating multidrug-resistant bacteria (Lowe, 2010: 642).…”