Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Japan: epidemiology and infection prevention measures.

In recent years, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as the Ebola virus disease and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), have been frequently reported. In this review, we summarize the representative outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases since 2000 and outbreaks of various infectious diseases that have occurred around the world and in Japan. Moreover, the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that could develop in Japan are also summarized. Especially, for mosquito-borne infectious diseases, viral hemorrhagic fever and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and avian Influenza and MERS, the disease features, routes of infection, and infection prevention measures are reviewed in this article. Healthcare workers are at high risk of infection, and therefore, a sufficient understanding of disease features and routes of infection and the appropriate infection prevention measures are needed to increase self-protection.