Month: February 2017

Historically, the plague has spread to other civilizations through warfare and trade. The massive death toll and speed with which the disease kills caused widespread panic and an irrational, violent response against specific groups of people. Relatively recently, the plague reached the U.S. in a similar way and was treated with much of the same fear and irrational paranoia. Thankfully improved scientific understanding of the disease has led to a realistic solution that is directed against another species rather than an ethnic group, however many countries still face this disease in their daily lives. Continuing progress in these countries will … Continue reading Artifact 2: The History and Re-emergence of Plague, and the Evolution of Plague Response

  The Agricultural Revolution drastically changed the way that humans interact with each other and the environment, and caused infectious diseases to have a much more profound impact on our population. A combination of human, animal, and environmental factors (the interaction of which is called the “One Health” concept) created more suitable environments for infectious diseases while the steady globalization of societies has brought existing diseases to new hosts with little or no immunity. This diaspora of plagues has directly affected the development of the human race, and diseases have killed on a global scale on multiple occasions. Ironically, the … Continue reading Artifact 1: Historical Plague Factors and the Effects of Globalization on Infectious Diseases