GEO 210 Lecture 7: Epidemiological Dangers PDF

Week 7: Epidemiological Dangers October 31, 2024 Medical Geography Medical Geography is the analysis of health and disease through human-environment relationships Health Geography is relationship between local environment factors and disease...

Week 7: Epidemiological Dangers October 31, 2024 Medical Geography Medical Geography is the analysis of health and disease through human-environment relationships Health Geography is relationship between local environment factors and disease Medical Geography is linked with epidemiology- (branch of medicine that deals with incidence, distribution and control of diseases) Some definitions: An Issue of Scale Epidemic: Widespread occurrence of a disease in a community at a particular time Pandemic: Geographic spread (disease occurs over a whole country or entire world and effects high portion of population The Plague (in order of events) 1. The Plague of Justinian 2. The Black death (killed ⅓ of europe population) 3. Third pandemic Bubonic Plague Three eruptions of Bubonic Plague Black death was given the most attention because it killed many people How the Plague Spreads Plague is a deadly disease caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis Plague bacteria are transmitted to people by fleas on rats, squirrels and other wild rodents The fleas feed on infected rats, become infectious and distribute disease in other rats When numbers in rats decrease, the fleas find a new host- humans ….leading to a epidemic The Geographic Spread of Plague Theory suggest plague started in Asia The epidemic probably began in the Northeastern Chinese in the province of Hopei, where it killed 90% of the population The plague was carried along trade routes: Black death Plague Today Plague attacked large areas of Europe The standard of living improved after the plague Bubonic plague kills many areas of the world even today, but will less likely reach worldwide because the plague bacteria is susceptible to antibiotics Antibiotic resistant strains of plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis Most cases of reported human plague and death (2010)- Madagascar Smallpox Extremely contagious and deadly virus and has no known cure Last known case was 1949 in America and globally, last case diagnosed was in 1977 WHO provided global removal of disease un 1980 due to worldwide vaccination programs Smallpox Brought to North America Europeans brought smallpox to North America that devastated the First Nations Europeans carried germs, which thrived in dense, semi-urban populations The First Nations never dealt with flu, measles or other diseases, so they were unsure how to protect themselves and what measures to take which resulted in wiping 90% of their population Infected blankets were given purposefully to First Nations as form of germ warfare European germs also wrecked devastation on First Nations communities of Australia and New Zealand What is a Vaccine They prevent disease by exposing the immune system to a tiny amounts of pathogen (diseases causing organisms) that has been damaged or killed so it cannot cause disease Vaccines induce acquired immunity so when the body encounters a real disease causing agent it is able to defend itself Onatrio’s Immunization Schedule Publicly funded Can be obtained through doctor/pharmacy Needed to attend school constituents World Health Organization The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)- ensure infants/children and mothers have access to routinely recommended vaccines GAVI (Global Vaccine Alliance)- provide equal access to vaccines for children living in the world's poorest countries. Only 7% of infants of 73 are fully immunized in the poorest countries Concerns about Immunization A survey (Survey for the Development of the Children Vaccination Campaign) was conducted in 2017 for Canadians commissioned by Health Canada which looked into parents awareness, attitude and belief ti vaccines for children 0-6 years Canadians who are the most vaccine hesitant Parents in B.C said they had low trust in vaccines compared nationally Parents in Atlantic canada and ontario are most likely to trust vaccines Canadian men are more likely to trust vaccination than women About half of canadian parents/expecting parents said they had no concerns on the vaccines, while less than half said they had minor doubts and small percentage said they have doubts but will still get their child vaccinated Immunization and educational Attainment Canadian with greater levels of educations are most likely to trust vaccinations Reliable Sources of Information on Immunization Many parents cited reasons like side effects, allergic reactions, lack of trust, and toxic ingredients the reason why they have doubts in vaccines Primary sources of vaccination information came from healthcare professionals The History of Anti- Vaccination Movements Started in England as an immediate reaction to mandatory vaccination laws In 1905 in Cabrideg Massachutes led to a court case that allows states to enact mandatory vaccine laws The Cutter Incident occurred in 1955 where a lab mixed in the live polio virus with the inactivated virus In 1998, a paper written by British doctor linked the MMR vaccine to autism School vaccine examination by state 3 states have no vaccine exemption Most states have both religious and philosophical exemptions allowed In Canada In 2011 Canada had the most measle cases Ebola Virus Ebola is most feared for internal/external bleeding which can cause damage to blood vessels Majority of outbreaks have appeared in parts of Africa Ebola in the US 11 people were treated for the Ebola virus in the US during the 2014-2016 epidemic, all cases in the US were imported There is no longer a Ebola virus in Canada since it’s license was bought by a company in Ames, Iowa 2019 Ebola Outbreak Many people died from the outbreak in Democratic republic of the Congo making it largest outbreak in the country Zika Virus Started in rhesus monkeys in Zika forest First case of zika in humans was in Uganda and Tanzania, which later spread to other african countries india and other areas of the world Outbreaks may be prone to happen in the US, but unlikely in Canada because of climate Most zika virus cases were travel related SARS Sars is a similar virus to covid 2003 reh pandemic of Sara happened in Guangdong province and spread to more tgan two dozen countries in North America China and Canada were highlighted in red SARS in Toronto February 2003 originated with a elderly women who started with the individuals and was spreading Global cooperation occurred due to this about transmission, efforts to combat disease The end of SARS SARS has not occurred since anywhere since 2004 Economic Impact Benefit concert were in place to assist with costs of came with SARS 15 Years later: What did Toronto learn from SARS WHO warned travelers to stay away from toronto in 2003, but unfortunately 44 people died from the virus by the time it was contained West Nile virus Discovered in Uganda Reservoir: mosquito (vector) to bird (host) to human Effects of West Nile Virus They don't develop symptoms but only mild headache, some people get inflammation to spinal cord and brain Vulnerable Populations Age: older people Certain medications Global Distribution of West Nile Virus Asia and North America were not as greatly affected Conditions for mosquitoes(vector) = hot areas West Nile 2024 residence was in Texas How do we detect West Nile virus? … we are looking for dead birds Lyme disease How did lyme disease start?? it started in Lyme, Connecticut Caused by deer ticks Localized geographic conditions- tall and grasses Can be treated with antibiotics and at the last stage there is no cure Time in which the ticks are active are expanding over the year Risk areas for Lyme disease Northern hemisphere Southern Ontario in Canada