Monthly Archives: April 2018

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a deadly epidemic that has spread across the world. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. If left unchecked, HIV evolves into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. You can get or transmit HIV only through specific activities. The most common activities being sexual behaviors and needle/syringe use. It is thought to of come from a certain species of chimpanzees. However, it is considered a 21^st century plague. This is because the discovery and the subsequent pandemic that followed is recent. World leaders refused to acknowledge that it was a problem. Moreover, the causes of transmission are also 21^st century taboo topics – the two highest/most common being homosexuality/anal sex and drug abuse. This well-known fact, along with the acquisition of HIV itself, can have major effects on victims. It is common for those that have HIV to feel guilt and shame. Another impact on our culture is that we shun and actively avoid those who contract this virus as if they have the plague. There have also been several impacts to American culture due to this pandemic. First, the LGBTQ community was (after already being outcasted) further ostracized from society and received the blame for the virus spreading in the United States. Another impact, perhaps a more positive one, is that it brought more awareness to sexually transmitted diseases and practicing safe sex.

Although over 36 million people are currently infected with HIV, there has been progress in the road to recovery and aid. The first is prevention and education in regards to HIV. Practicing safe sex and having the younger generation be more knowledgeable about the disease can help. There is also a “preventative” medicine that humans can take if they are at very high risk for HIV or if they believe they have been in contact with it. This medicine is called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP. PrEP significantly lowers the chances of becoming infected with HIV- by more than 90%. The next step is treatment for HIV. Once infected, people can take Antiretroviral drugs, or ARV. These drugs can slow down the virus to a near halt, stopping it from spreading in the body and killing the victim.

HR: cdc.gov, CANVAS documents, WHO.org

Vibrio cholerae, or cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine and is spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water. It is also spread by feces contaminated water. As with all infectious diseases, poverty, malnutrition and lack of saniation were the more prominent methods that allowed cholera to spread so quickly and effectively. Over the past 200 years, seven pandemics of cholera carried the disease to countries around the world. Trade also played a role. By 1820, cholera was transmitted along trade routes to China, Japan, and the Philippines. Cholera found its way into Africa and North America via the slave trade. The second pandemic thrashed Russia, where it spread through Europe. This caused Irish immigrants to carry the infection across the Atlantic into Canada and New York. Next, the third pandemic began in 1852 and is considered to have been the most deadly. It was during this era that John snow published his landmark epidemiological studies on cholera.

Dr. John Snow, born in 1813, studied cholera tansmission during the 1854 epidemic in London. His hypothesis was that contaminated water was the cause of cholera. The problem was that there were those who opposed his hypothesis. Many had different theories but the most prominent opposer of his theory were those that adhered to the “miasma” model of infection. One such person was Henry Whitehead. Henry Whitehead was a Church of England priest in Soho during the 1854 cholera outbreak. Whitehead was a firm believer in the miasma model of disease. However, he became a supporter of Snow’s conclusions. Later, Snow identified the Broad Street Pump as a source of contaminated water. He had the pump handle removed. Snow and Whitehad’s work set a new precedent for the new science of epidemiology as a science of determining distribution, determinants, and deterrents of disease.

Italian researcher Filippo Pacini officially discovered the cause of cholera coincidentally around the same time as John Snow. Pacini performed autopsies with his microscope and discovered comma-shaped bacillus. He would later publish several papers on cholera but was largely ignored. He described the disease as a massive loss of fluid and electrolytes due to the local action of the bacteria. Pacini went on to recommened injections of 10 grams of sodium chloride in a liter of water to manage the illness.

Another researcher that aided in fight against cholera was Dr. Robert Koch. One of the “founding fathers” of the science of bacteriology.

Today, cholera (although waining) remains a threat to humanity. It recently claimed victims in Haiti and Yemen. Eveidence suggest cholera was brought to Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal. Factors such as poor sanitation (still) and lack of healthcare has allowed cholera to breach Haiti and Yemen claiming thousands of lives.

HR: modules/articles on Canvas, cdc.gov

Tuberculosis is considered one of the deadliest infectious diseases in human history. Spread easily through contact with infected or infected articles of clothing and objects, Tuberculosis usually affects the victim’s lungs causing a bad cough, pain in the chest and coughing up blood. Tuberculosis can be fatal. Despite being extremely infectious and spread easily on its own, there are/were several factors that led to an increase in susceptibility to tuberculosis.

The tuberculosis epidemic in Europe started in the 17^th century and reached epidemic proportions during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. High population density and poor sanitary conditions created a perfect environment for its propagation. Because of the epidemic, this led to a lot of emmigration to the U.S. by Europeans. Immigrants took up residence in crowded tenements in Philadeplhia, Boston, and NYC around 1850. These tenements were dark, constructed poorly, badly ventilated, and filthy. This allowed for the bacteria to spread quickly and efficiently. Physicians attributed 8,000 to 9,000 deaths a year to tuberculosis in these types of tenements. These tenements are a testament to how important a healthy lifestyle and a healthy immue system are in preventing the spread of tuberculosis.

Malnutrition played a big role in the spread of TB. Malnutrition makes people more likely to activate or switch from latent to active contagious infections. Malnutrition, sickness and other diseases led to an easy conquest for TB. Those with HIV are extremely vulnerable and susceptible to not only other diseases but also especially TB. This is because they have a weakened immune system. Also, the problem of antibiotic resistance occurs when multiple drug therapy is not adhered to. This has led to extremely resistant TB that is very difficult to treat and can be transmitted to others.

HR: Modules on canvas, articles provided on canvas, cdc.gov