4.b. Mitigation strategies to combat global pandemics and overcome physical barriers. Flashcards
How do physical barriers influence diseases and their mitigation?
Physical barriers often isolate communities and restrict population movements, this reduce risk of infection and spread of disease but also creates problems, delaying the arrival of medical assistance and emergency aid.
If indigenous tribes are hit by a disease, what may happen?
Diseases can strike harder if a tribe eventually contracts it.
A lack of exposure and resilience/ immunity to disease can make infections more severe.
Outline how Pakistan and Nepal earthquakes have increased disease influence.
(Physical barriers increasing disease in isolated communities)
Diseases that were endemic, e.g. typhoid and cholera, increase quickly and become out of control.
Especially bad for rural isolated communities, as the natural disasters prohibit the administration of emergency aid.
E.g. Gorkha is a 2 day walk from the main village - this was cut off by a landslide.
Outline how Amazonia indigenous tribes have increased disease influence.
(Physical barriers increasing disease in isolated communities)
- Tribes may be introduced to people carrying ‘western’ diseases.
- Oil explorers also fatally contaminate indigenous water sources.
- Logging and other forestry activities can harm indigenous tribes.
E.g. Nahua tribe was wiped out after people completed an exploration around their land.
E.g. Murunahua tribe were contacted during illegal mahogany logging.
Outline how the Congo rainforest (Central Africa) has decreased disease influence.
(Physical barriers containing disease to isolated communities)
Forestry remoteness can protect wider populations.
E.g. Ebola virus was contained in the area, as the infected didn’t contact the ‘outside world’.
Outline how Chesapeake Bay, Maryland (USA) has decreased disease influence.
(Physical barriers containing disease to isolated communities)
Ocean and coastline protecting wider populations.
Divided the state into 2 distinct regions, the Bay acting as a barrier to population movements which limited the spread of measles from 1917-1938.
When was HIV/AIDS first identified? What is it?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
First identified in USA 1981.
Virus weakens the human immune system.
Leaves those infected with little-resistance to other life-threatening diseases.
What is AIDS? Does it still exist?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
The second stage of HIV.
Although AIDS pandemic has declined, it has not gone away.
As of 2021, how many people currently have HIV? How many new cases were recorded? Deaths?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
- 38.2 million currently with HIV, (2021).
- 1.5 million new HIV cases recorded, (2021).
- 650,000 deaths from AIDS, (2021).
What percentage of HIV is located in Sub-Saharan Africa?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
70% of HIV.
By 2015, the disease had been more or less dealt with. What other issues were there?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
There was still no universal access to treatment for HIV sufferers.
In the past 35 years significant progress has been made to improve HIV treatment access. How?
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
- Government funding.
- Multilateral agencies -> WHO/ UNICEF.
- Cases 33% lower in 2013, than in 2001.
What is the main direct strategy to combat HIV/AIDS?
(Direct strategies)
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
Antiretroviral Therapy, (ART), it prevents the multiplication of the virus.
Outline ART as a direct strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.
(Direct strategies)
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
It is key that the diagnosis is made early - as it may not work if immune system is already down.
Prevents the transmission of the virus as an STI.
ART has a 100% success rate in preventing the spread of HIV through sexual intercourse.
ART may not be available in LIDCs, as therapies aren’t readily accessible to Sub-Saharan Africa, (expensive).
How does ART differ from the UK to USA?
(Direct strategies)
(HIV/ AIDS Pandemic)
UK: ART free on NHS.
USA: High costs for ART.
