TY - JOUR AU - Morris, J. Glenn AU - Potter, Morris T1 - Emergence of New Pathogens as a Function of Changes in Host Susceptibility T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 1997 VL - 3 IS - 4 SP - 435 SN - 1080-6059 AB - A pathogen may emerge as an important public health problem because of changes in itself or its transmission pathways. Alternatively, a microorganism may emerge as a pathogen or acquire new public health importance because of changes in host susceptibility to infection. Factors influencing host susceptibility within the population as a whole include increases in the number of immunocompromised patients; increased use of immunosuppressive agents, particularly among persons receiving cancer chemotherapy or undergoing organ transplantation; aging of the population; and malnutrition. In considering the emergence of foodborne pathogens and designing interventions to limit their spread, the susceptibility of these population subgroups to specific infections should be taken into account. KW - United States DO - 10.3201/eid0304.970404 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/3/4/97-0404_article ER - End of Reference