Through the course of my society and epidemics class in a fur week process we went over a variety of epidemics in today’s current society. These epidemics have shaped the world around us today. Epidemics of disease have shaped the course of human civilization and our societies. In their relentlessly democratic assault on human populations, princes and paupers, men and women, the old and the young have all been affected by disease, their lives and the lives of those around them ended abruptly or changed forever. There are a couple of disease that I think have a huge effect today still in the world we live in. Plagues were a huge thing just like TB which is commonly known as tuberculosis and HIV Aids. These three are the most significant topics that we covered in the class. I feel that I got a lot out of this epidemics class with the outstanding Dr. Hinks and she taught this class very fluently.
There are a lot of historical and societal factors that play key roles in the appearance of plagues throughout history. Effects of social/cultural changes on infectious diseases have been observed in populations. Plagues were first brought up due to the domestication and spread of humans. Hand and hand humans and animals lived together. This brought about many problems for both species. Humans and animals lived together shared the same water supply Squalid conditions of villages offered a paradise for rats, mice, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes. Also factors like deterioration of human diet due to concentration on growing and eating a single crop which holds lack of nutrients can arise to the effect of plague being seen. “Plague is a disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague.” (artifact 1) Plague is infamous for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages. The black death of the middle ages was historically one of the largest epidemics to ever occur in world history, killing thousands of people. Societal factors, like large overcrowded populations, bad hygiene, citizens not properly doing what is necessary to be clean, can aid in things like plague. The black death explained in the film “The Black Death” as thought to have been originated from Asia from the Mongolians. Artifact 1 pretty much talked about the emergence of plagues throughout history and how much of a toll they have had on the world today and how we can learn from them.
Artifact 6 Which is TB or tuberculosis, “tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain”. (artifact 6) Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal, TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. Frequently occurring from individuals with HIV have tuberculosis. The thing about TB is that it’s hard to treat. There are three different types of TB and two of them are the strongest types and have a devastating effect. Generally, most people do not finish the treatment of TB before dying after the countless months of getting treatment.
Artifact 8 HIV is the last main topic, “HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection”. (artifact 8) No effective cure exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Some groups of people in the United States are more likely to get HIV than others because of many factors, including their sex partners, their risk behaviors, and where they live. HIV is typically associated with homosexuals and in America during a time when actions as such were not respectable. Ultimately the disease killed thousands and cases spread everywhere like wildfire. There’s not much to cure the disease since it can mutate and adapt to an immune system. Those with weaker immune systems are more likely to contract and die from disease.
All in all, throughout my time in class i believe these are the most important that affect us as a n society today. Doctors are still doing everything in their power to stop these diseases and the best way to destroy and eradicate thee are learning from past mistakes and remaining optimistic.
Work Cited: Artifact1 Plagues
Artifact 6 TB
Artifact 8 HIV