Environmental Pathogens
Overview
Environmental Pathogens are microorganisms that generally inhabit the environment and exist outside of a human host for a large proportion of their lifecycle. When they come into contact with humans however, they are able to cause disease at measureable frequency. Varied environmental pathogens can cause disease in humans to varying degrees, with some responsible for severe and difficult to treat infections. Rapid identification and accurate surveillance are important in limiting the burden of disease associated with these pathogens.