Disease & Human Health
~ SCIENCE 20-4 ~
Pandemic Diseases
Pandemic diseases are those which are able to infect a significant percentage of the population over a large geographic area; they are extremely difficult to control (note that an “epidemic” is simply the occurrence of a disease in a confined geographic area).
BUBONIC PLAGUE
(1300’s)
TUBERCULOSIS EPIDEMIC
(1500’s)
SPANISH FLU
(1900’s)
AIDS PANDEMIC
(PRESENT)
SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC
(1800’s)
- bacterial disease causing
fever & swollen glands
- spread through Asia &
Europe, causing over 100
million deaths worldwide
- bacterial disease that
damages the lungs
- spread by European
sailors to N. America
- viral infection responsible
for the decimation of
Aboriginal populations
after European contact
- viral infection prevalent
During WWI
- killed millions worldwide
due to increased ease of
travel
- viral infection that
weakens the body’s
immune response
- spread as a result of
sexual contact
DESCRIPTION & IMPACT OF NOTABLE PANDEMIC DISEASES:
How do pandemics spread???
Social Conditions & the Spread of Disease
Most pandemics can be attributed to the various social conditions that existed at the time…
BUBONIC PLAGUE
(1300’s)
TUBERCULOSIS EPIDEMIC
(1500’s)
SPANISH FLU
(1900’s)
AIDS PANDEMIC
(PRESENT)
SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC
(1800’s)
- overcrowded cities,
unsanitary water and a
lack of waste treatment
facilities allowed the
bacteria to proliferate
- high population of rats
carried the disease from
city to city
- overcrowding of ships,
poor air circulation, lack
of sanitation and minimal
nutrition on ships caused
sailors to become ill
- Aboriginal population
had no previous exposure
to the disease (lack of
immunity)
- Cultural norms of
Aboriginals (living in
close contact with
extended family) and
lack of previous exposure
to disease lead to spread
of disease throughout
communities
- soldiers travelling during
WWI spread flu worldwide
- poor sanitation, nutrition,
and little access to health
care during wartime
caused many soldiers to
fall ill
- lack of access to
birth control
- sharing of needles
- infants born to
infected mothers
- inadequate education,
healthcare, and
prevention programs
in developing countries
Public Health Initiatives
Once the cause of a disease and conditions leading to its proliferation have been identified, a population can work together to prevent epidemics from occurring again.Today, provincial health departments throughout our country put in place many health initiatives to prevent the spread of disease, including…
Protecting Your Health
FACTOR | CONCERN | PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINE |
Population growth & overcrowding | Overcrowding increases risk of being exposed to pathogens | Good personal hygiene, proper treatment and disposal of waste |
Migration | Diseases may be easily carried from country to country | Close monitoring of disease and development of emergency response plans |
Lifestyle choices | People tend to eat out more rather than cooking for themselves | Restaurant inspections and health-codes to ensure safe food handling practices |
Travel | Increased exposure to unfamiliar pathogens | Travellers receive proper vaccinations, availability of brochures for specific locations |
Food supply | Food comes from many places | FDA guidelines for food industry, food inspectors |
Sexual activity & childbirth | Increased transmission of STD’s and mothers exposing themselves to harmful substances during pregnancy | STD awareness programs (CALM!), prenatal nutrition and FASD awareness programs |
What happens when the government doesn’t do its job???