The Gateways for Viruses

Over the past few decades, Virologists have studied the ways viruses have been transmitted from human to human and how they could spreads so easily.  Travel has been one of the mains causes of viruses spreading. The first development of land bridges and boats allowed human races to come in contact with unknown animal species and with other human races. The development of  Roads, railways, and airplanes all provide new connections for the movement of animals, people, and cargo. These developments created links that would change how the nature of infectious human diseases spread. Chimpanzees create trails to move through Forest territories and other animals come in contact with them. HIV is an example of the impact that road proliferation has had on the movement of microbes in Africa. The areas of Africa that have roads have a higher percent of people with HIV then more rural areas that are nor connected by roads. Roads spread people and people spread HIV.
Airplanes link populations in an immediate way and viruses can spread quicker.  Scientists have made a connection that the volume of domestic air travel predicts the rate of spread in influenza in the U.S. The other main gateway viruses can enter a human is through blood transfusions, and organ transplants. Many blood donors blood is screened for harmful microbes but in less fortunate countries, they do not have that luxury. HIV, hepatitis, and AIDS are most commonly transmitted by tainted blood.  Donating organs can also be a danger. Receiving an infected tissue of some sort can lead to exposures of new viruses and the possibility of other people catching the virus. Using an unsterilized needle is another example of a gateway. Using an unsterilized needle for injection drug use, intravenous fluid, or for tattoos can be extremely harmful and can make it easy for viruses to make you and your body their host.