Experts suggest a shift towards focusing on control and coexistence instead of complete eradication when it comes to historical attempts to eliminate diseases. Joanna Thompson’s report for Undark highlights that many diseases, such as Lyme and malaria, are too complex to be eradicated due to their multiple hosts and vectors.
Recent efforts have focused on prevention strategies, including using narrow-spectrum antibiotics in natural reservoirs and developing gene-edited mosquitoes. These approaches aim to control the spread of diseases rather than completely eliminating them.
The failure of past eradication campaigns, like the Soviet campaign against plague, has prompted a reevaluation of strategies towards containment and surveillance. As Susan Jones, an ecologist and historian at the University of Minnesota, notes, shifting resources towards prevention and surveillance is essential given the limited nature of available resources.
Understanding the complexity of zoonotic diseases underscores the need for sustainable prevention strategies that prioritize control and coexistence in disease management. The risk of wildlife diseases increases when forests are cut down and natural habitats are disturbed, making it even more crucial to adopt these strategies.
