WASHINGTON, D.C.--A preview of a new global map of emerging infectious diseases was presented today here at the AAAS meeting by Peter Daszak of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine at Wildlife Trust in New York City. The map, which spans the years 1940 to 2004, indicates roughly 500 locations around the world where specific diseases first emerged. While not yet corrected for reporting biases, the map clearly shows that the majority of infectious diseases originated in Europe, North America, and Japan. The media often focuses on AIDS, SARS, Ebola, and other high-profile diseases that began in developing countries, says Daszak, but the preliminary map suggests that food-borne infections and drug-resistant microbes are a more significant public health threat.
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