GLOBALIZATION TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL CHANGE
Source: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/continuing-professional-development/short-courses/medicine/public-health/epidemiology/ (Accessed 20171010)
RESEARCHER: Daniel
Globalization has a wide range of definition based on who is using it. For instance, an economist would have a different definition compared to a lawyer or an environmentalist. In this context, the word globalization would be defined as “… the flow of people, goods and services, capital, values and ideas, infectious diseases, and other entity in a way that does not recognize national border.” (Saker, Lee and Cannito). It could be said that globalization has changed and is still changing how we perceive and experience different aspect of our lives such culture, time and so on. It reconstructs the timeframe at which different event occurs such as natural or man induced. “For example, the time taken for some infectious diseases to spread across territorial space has become much quicker as a result of the increased amount, frequency, and spread of population mobility. Similarly, the potential capacity to detect and report disease outbreaks has quickened due to the advent of global information and communication systems.” (Saker, Lee and Cannito)
Throughout history, infectious diseases (IDs) have been a challenge and has contributed to increased number of human mortality and morbidity. Even now, IDs still cause increased death rate in certain regions and global fear. Even though adult suffer from these IDs, children are more vulnerable because of their under developed immune systems. IDs are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, virus and so on that has the potential to be pathogenic. A pathogen is any microorganism that has the tendency of causing diseases. Pathogens cause diseases by disrupting the bodies homeostasis and each microorganism have diverse ways of doing that. For instance, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which is a retro virus (it means they only possess RNA and depend on a host to reverse transcribe the RNA to DNA which can be used to make useful proteins for the virus survival) affects the body by attacking one of the immune cells (CD4 cells or T – Helper cells). The virus hijacks the T-cell and make it produce its progeny. This kills the T – cell and reduce the number of immune cells ready to fight other IDs, rendering the body defenseless. For a pathogen to survive, it needs an environment (reservoir) that is conducive for its survival and a mode of motility (passive or active carrier and flagella or cilia). The reservoir could be a living organism (definitive host) or non – living site (soil and water). There are different ways through which IDs could be transmitted. It could be through contact, vehicle (water, air, food and etc.), vector (mechanical or biological). furthermore, there has been a long standing death match between infectious diseases and humans. The goal of each fighter is to either exploit the other or forcefully send it into extinction. can you fight what you can't see? well, with that idea, IDs have better advantage at sending humans into extinction. In this article, technology, migration and urbanization would be explored to see how it enhance the survival and spread of IDs.
Throughout history, infectious diseases (IDs) have been a challenge and has contributed to increased number of human mortality and morbidity. Even now, IDs still cause increased death rate in certain regions and global fear. Even though adult suffer from these IDs, children are more vulnerable because of their under developed immune systems. IDs are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, virus and so on that has the potential to be pathogenic. A pathogen is any microorganism that has the tendency of causing diseases. Pathogens cause diseases by disrupting the bodies homeostasis and each microorganism have diverse ways of doing that. For instance, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which is a retro virus (it means they only possess RNA and depend on a host to reverse transcribe the RNA to DNA which can be used to make useful proteins for the virus survival) affects the body by attacking one of the immune cells (CD4 cells or T – Helper cells). The virus hijacks the T-cell and make it produce its progeny. This kills the T – cell and reduce the number of immune cells ready to fight other IDs, rendering the body defenseless. For a pathogen to survive, it needs an environment (reservoir) that is conducive for its survival and a mode of motility (passive or active carrier and flagella or cilia). The reservoir could be a living organism (definitive host) or non – living site (soil and water). There are different ways through which IDs could be transmitted. It could be through contact, vehicle (water, air, food and etc.), vector (mechanical or biological). furthermore, there has been a long standing death match between infectious diseases and humans. The goal of each fighter is to either exploit the other or forcefully send it into extinction. can you fight what you can't see? well, with that idea, IDs have better advantage at sending humans into extinction. In this article, technology, migration and urbanization would be explored to see how it enhance the survival and spread of IDs.
TECHNOLOGY ROLE
Without any doubt, technology has been one of man's greatest achievement. while there are lots of advantages with the introduction of technology, there are also disadvantages that comes with it as well. there are several aspect of technology that plays different role on the spread and prevention of IDs. For instance, the introduction of technology in medical practices has substantially prevented or controlled epidemic or pandemic of IDs by vaccination, antimicrobial sanitation and hygiene and other varieties of drugs (Breiman). In addition, cutting edge technologies such DNA and RNA manipulation, sophisticated microscopes have increased the chances to study and annihilate these IDs while protecting the vital cells and organs of the body. On the other hand, the disadvantages outweighs the advancement in preventing IDs. A good example of a disadvantage would be the storing of these IDs for military interest. If you've studied world history, you would realize that one way to quantify a nation's political power is by evaluating how advanced and destructive the military could be. Several ID's such Anthrax, C. Botulinum and so on could be used in biological weapon of mass destruction. Another drawback of medical technology is the use of instruments that could serve as a medium through which IDs could be transfered from one person to another. A common scenario is the sharing of needles for drugs or the improper sterilization of medical equipment before use. Lastly, the fact that IDs evolve and mutate create an obstacle for pharmaceutical companies because the IDs form resistance to whatever drug that is been produced. With the strict regulations on drug manufacturing, production of a different drug would be a huge challenge. while these may seem like a lot so far, there are still other reasons why IDs have a better chance in eradicating man from earth as we proceed to migration.
migration role
It is known that "up to 2% of the total world population is living outside their country of birth"(Gushulak and MacPherson). That's a massive significant number knowing that the current census of the world is 7.5 billion approximately. while migration brings several benefits such economic growth, cultural exchange, innovation, diversity and so on, it also has disadvantages such as increased spread of IDs, unemployment and etc. Focusing on the drawback involving IDs, there are different situation in history in which an epidemic became a pandemic as a result of infected individuals spreading the infectious. an example would be HIV/AIDS, in which research determined that the disease originated from Africa but spread to other parts of the world by the help of migration. probably you won't be able to relate to the first example but a more common seasonal illness, influenza caused by a Viral ID affects many people during fall and winter season. The first recorded incident of influenza (H1N1) was in Spain in year 1918 which was gotten from birds (avian) and it spread to other continents, creating new strains that are infectious. as you may know from the previous example, humans aren't the only means by which the IDs spread around. They could be carried by other animals (zoonosis) of different species that humans encounter with. A huge difficulty involving the spread of IDs through migration is the fact that IDs forms new strains that is suitable for their new environment, making it difficult to cure. this is the same reason why these IDs have stood the test of time and still pose a challenge due to emerging strains. This is another advantage over humans. moving on, the role of urbanization in this on going battle would be discussed.
urbanization role
Urbanization is quite similar to migration in sense that people within a country move from rural areas to urban cities. "This shift has been occurring over the past 100 years, with the most rapid rate of urban growth occurring over in the latter half of the twentieth century"(Reyes, Ahn and Thurber). This is a result of industrialization. While there are jobs and other good things associated with moving to an urban area, it brings humans too close to each other. This is not good because when an outbreak occurs, it affects a lot people compared to if it was in a rural area. For instance, during the ebola incident in New York, the doctor (Craig Spencer) who went to Guinea (West Africa) for volunteer contracted ebola (as per the news then) and was taken to Bellevue hospital. Prior to going to the hospital, he used public transportation which exposed the infection to a large number of people. In addition, deforestation due to urbanization limits wild life and cause the mingling of wildlife and humans which increase the spread of zoonotic diseases. As an example, in some areas deers cross path with humans due to part of a forest that has been converted to a road or residential house. In addition, urbanization make people depend on process foods from unknown location which can be another means of spreading these IDs. Overall, urbanization speed up the contraction of these IDs.
Conclusion
Globalization of IDs limits the progress of humans in the battle against IDs. Technology helps in a way but its difficult to fight something you don't really know much about. Researches are constantly done to understand how this infectious disease carry out their normal function. Migration and urbanization spreads the IDs to a wider range of population resulting in pandemics. Just as humans hunt and kill other animas for whatever reason, sympathy shouldn't be shown because at the end of the day these IDs are trying to survive too. Some of these IDs are similar to microorganisms in the body that are useful and medications for IDs pose a treat to the microorganisms. "... mitigating the risks from emerging and reemerging zoonoses requires preemptive measures against their sociological drivers"(Wu, Perrings and Kinzig) and using technology to layout a better urbanization plan that account for epidemic and pandemic.
Globalization of IDs limits the progress of humans in the battle against IDs. Technology helps in a way but its difficult to fight something you don't really know much about. Researches are constantly done to understand how this infectious disease carry out their normal function. Migration and urbanization spreads the IDs to a wider range of population resulting in pandemics. Just as humans hunt and kill other animas for whatever reason, sympathy shouldn't be shown because at the end of the day these IDs are trying to survive too. Some of these IDs are similar to microorganisms in the body that are useful and medications for IDs pose a treat to the microorganisms. "... mitigating the risks from emerging and reemerging zoonoses requires preemptive measures against their sociological drivers"(Wu, Perrings and Kinzig) and using technology to layout a better urbanization plan that account for epidemic and pandemic.
Sources
*Trauma slot image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXRd9sMSr-k/UHEcbYwS8lI/AAAAAAAAAAk/4xWC9JRHXkI/s1600/medical-technology+(1).jpg
*Migration image: http://ste.india.com/sites/default/files/2017/03/27/581621-migration-2403-5.jpg
*City image: https://morphocode.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/global-trends-of-urbanization-overview.jpg
*Saker, Lance , et al. "Globalization and infectious disease: A review of the linkages." World Health Organization, n.d.
*Breiman, Robert F. "Impact of Technology on the Emergence of Infectious Diseases." The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1996.
*Gushulak, Brian D. and Douglas W. MacPherson. "Globalization of Infectious Diseases: The Impact of Migration." Clinical Infectious Diseases 38.12 (2004): 1742–1748.
*Reyes R., Ahn R., Thurber K., Burke T.F. (2013) Urbanization and Infectious Diseases: General Principles, Historical Perspectives, and Contemporary Challenges. In: Fong I. (eds) Challenges in Infectious Diseases. Emerging Infectious Diseases of the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY
*Wu, T., Perrings, C., Kinzig, A. et al. Ambio (2017) 46: 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-016-0809-2
*Trauma slot image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXRd9sMSr-k/UHEcbYwS8lI/AAAAAAAAAAk/4xWC9JRHXkI/s1600/medical-technology+(1).jpg
*Migration image: http://ste.india.com/sites/default/files/2017/03/27/581621-migration-2403-5.jpg
*City image: https://morphocode.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/global-trends-of-urbanization-overview.jpg
*Saker, Lance , et al. "Globalization and infectious disease: A review of the linkages." World Health Organization, n.d.
*Breiman, Robert F. "Impact of Technology on the Emergence of Infectious Diseases." The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1996.
*Gushulak, Brian D. and Douglas W. MacPherson. "Globalization of Infectious Diseases: The Impact of Migration." Clinical Infectious Diseases 38.12 (2004): 1742–1748.
*Reyes R., Ahn R., Thurber K., Burke T.F. (2013) Urbanization and Infectious Diseases: General Principles, Historical Perspectives, and Contemporary Challenges. In: Fong I. (eds) Challenges in Infectious Diseases. Emerging Infectious Diseases of the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY
*Wu, T., Perrings, C., Kinzig, A. et al. Ambio (2017) 46: 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-016-0809-2