Disease Control in the 21st Century: Moving Beyond Eradication towards Coexistence and Sustainable Prevention Strategies

Joanna Thompson’s report for Undark highlights the fact that many diseases, such as Lyme and malaria, cannot be eradicated due to their complex ecologies involving multiple hosts and vectors. This has led experts to now suggest focusing on control and coexistence rather than eradication. Efforts to eradicate diseases in the past, like the Soviet campaign against plague, have largely failed. This has led to a shift towards containment strategies.

Susan Jones, an ecologist and historian at the University of Minnesota, emphasizes the importance of shifting resources towards prevention and surveillance. This is seen as the most effective approach, especially considering the limited resources available. Understanding the complexity of zoonotic diseases underscores the need for sustainable prevention strategies rather than focusing on eradication. Disturbing natural habitats, such as cutting forests, increases the risk of wildlife diseases.

Coexistence and control of diseases is more feasible and effective in the long run compared to attempting eradication. Susan Jones argues that this approach is essential since it allows for a better understanding of disease transmission patterns and helps in developing targeted interventions that can reduce disease burden without disrupting ecosystems or causing harm to non-target species.

Joanna Thompson’s report also highlights some recent efforts that are focusing on prevention strategies such as using narrow-spectrum antibiotics in natural reservoirs and developing gene-edited mosquitos. These approaches are seen as promising ways to control diseases while minimizing their impact on ecosystems