Section of Medical and Forensic Anthropology (UVSQ & EA4569), UFR of Health Sciences, 2 Avenue de la Source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France; CASH & IPES, 403 Avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
Information Génomique & Structurale (UMR7256), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille University & CNRS, Marseille, France; Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Marseille, France.
Eur J Intern Med. 2017 Oct;44:28-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2017.06.018. Epub 2017 Jun 20.
Work on human remains and old biological samples is a potential source of contamination by conventional or atypical infectious agents. Similarly, current and future environmental changes are a source of resurgence of ancient epidemic diseases. To what extent are anthropologists sorcerer apprentices (especially those working on ancient samples, i.e. paleo-anthropologists)? Are ancient skeletons, palaeosols and museum objects with a biological component at risk for current populations? Unless there are unfounded fears and undue risk… What can be learned from the recent scientific literature and the common sense of the researchers?
We have attempted to compile data from the literature and from our personal experience in the fields of anthropology, clinical medicine and epidemiology, in order to grasp the reality of the risk to the human population.
It appears that the risk is real, but extremely limited. Specific and simple protective measures must be taken in terms of overall and individual health, both in the field and in the laboratory.
These data are important for the internist, due to the possibility of atypical infections, both in specialized workers and in populations at risk (environmental context).
人类遗骸和旧生物样本的研究工作是常规或非典型传染性病原体污染的潜在来源。同样，当前和未来的环境变化也是古代传染病复发的根源。人类学家在多大程度上是巫师的学徒（特别是那些从事古代样本研究的人，即古人类学家）？具有生物成分的古代骨骼、古土壤和博物馆物品是否会对当前人群构成风险？除非存在毫无根据的恐惧和不必要的风险……可以从最近的科学文献和研究人员的常识中了解到什么？
我们试图从文献中以及我们在人类学、临床医学和流行病学领域的个人经验中收集数据，以了解这种对人类种群的风险的现实情况。
风险似乎是真实存在的，但极其有限。无论是在野外还是在实验室，都必须采取针对整体和个人健康的具体和简单的保护措施。
由于在专业工作者和处于危险中的人群（环境背景）中存在非典型感染的可能性，这些数据对于内科医生来说非常重要。
