//4.b. Mitigation strategies to combat global pandemics and overcome physical barriers

Question 1

HIV/AIDS pandemic- key facts about HIV/AIDS

Answer 1

• HIV first identified in the USA in 1981
• the virus weakens the immune system which then leads to AIDS
• worldwide, 35 million people have HIV
• 70% of HIV infections concentrated in sub-saharan Africa
• MDG 6a aimed to halt the spread of disease by 2015
• funding by governements, multilateral agencies and the Global Fund has lowered the number of new HIV infections

Question 2

HIV/AIDS pandemic- why are there problems with the poorest in reducing cases?

Answer 2

• because they struggle to fund comprehensive preventation/treatment programmes
• Botswana implemented two HIV/AIDS programmes HOWEVER 1/4 of 15-49 were HIV poitibe and there were 5700 AIDS deaths

Question 3

HIV/AIDS pandemic- STRATEGY- preventation

Answer 3

• aims to modify high risk behaviour associated with infection
• relies on education and better public understanding of HIV
• HIV transmitted by body fluids e.g. semen
• promoting safe sex
• prevetation addresses the issue for human rights-promoting human rights for those most at risk helps to reduce discrimination

Question 4

HIV/AIDS pandemic- STRATEGY- diagnosis

Answer 4

• early diagnosis can be achieved by screening for HIV antibodies in blood and saliva samples
• early diagnosis reduces chances of HIV carriers developing IDS

Question 5

HIV/AIDS pandemic- STRATEGY- treatment

Answer 5

• reductions in mortality/morbidity have been achieved by the use of antiretrovial drugs which halts the progression of the virus
• low cost ARVs available- 8 million people receiving drugs
• education programmes raise individual awareness and spread of diseases
• media campaigns against HIV/AIDs

Question 6

How do physical barriers have an effect on disease mitigation

Answer 6

• physical barriers can isolate communities

- can restrict population movement through an area

Question 7

Example of tribe affected by disease- Nahua Tribe in Amazon Basin

Answer 7

• very little immunity due to western diseases e.g. influenza
• mid 1980s in Peru
• contact from oil exploration (influenza) meant every person from the tribe was dead within a year

Question 8

Example of tribe affected by disease- Marunahua Tribe in Amazon Basin

Answer 8

• mid 1980s in Peru

- contact from mahogany loggers meant every person from the tribe dead within 18 months

Question 9

How have physical barriers affected Pakistan 2005 and Neplal 2015

Answer 9

Mountains and natural disasters

• isolated mountain communities
• landslides; no road access
• outbreakd of endemic water disease e.g. cholrea and typhoid
• 100 dead in just over a week

Question 10

Physical barriers- Ebola in 2014

Answer 10

• in 2014, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone had ebola
• in the 1980s, there was ebola in the DRC rainforest
• Sahara Desert acted as a physical barrier, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Africa
• the Congo Rainforest was a barrier to the east