the environment and its effect on health: climate and vector borne diseases Flashcards
How does the environment influence population health?
The environment impacts health through factors like climate, which can affect the prevalence of diseases and general physical/mental wellbeing.
What environmental factors can influence the incidence of disease?
Temperature, precipitation, and humidity are key climatic factors that can affect disease prevalence.
What are vector-borne diseases (VBD)?
These are diseases caused by a vector (carrier) transmitting a pathogen to humans.
Can you give an example of a vector-borne disease?
Malaria, where mosquitoes act as the vector, transmitting the pathogen to humans through bites.
What conditions do vectors like mosquitoes require to thrive?
High temperatures and access to water bodies (areas with high precipitation).
Why are mosquito-borne diseases most prevalent in tropical regions?
Tropical regions provide the high temperatures and wet conditions necessary for mosquitoes to live and breed.
What are some examples of extreme weather events?
tropical storms, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires.
How do extreme weather events contribute to disease outbreaks?
They can lead to the spread of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and diarrhoeal diseases, especially after events like floods and tropical storms.
Why are water-borne diseases common after natural disasters?
These diseases spread through contaminated water, which often results from flooding or damage caused by events like tropical storms.
Are disease outbreaks after natural disasters only caused by environmental factors?
No, the spread of diseases is also exacerbated by socio-economic disadvantages in the affected area.
How do socio-economic factors influence disease outbreaks after natural disasters?
poor sanitation and lack of healthcare infrastructure, worsen the impact of disease outbreaks following natural disasters.
