The Health Epidemic and Globalization

Erika Derderian

Comp. II Fall 2008 Online

The Health Epidemic and Globalization

        Throughout history, one constant has always been the horrific diseases that have plagued mankind and how widespread they’ve become.  Hundreds of years ago as more people started living in closer more confined spaces, random illnesses started to evolve.  Who hasn’t heard of the black plague responsible for killing over 1/3 of Europe’s population in the 1300’s or the flu pandemic in 1918 that lasted only a year but killed more people in that time frame than the black plague did in four.

Our civilizations have advance in the years since, and keeping right up have been new diseases and outbreaks with the frightening potential to completely wipe out the majority of the world’s population.  Although contained to a much smaller number of the population, with the ease and accessibility of travel, it seems as though we may just be a plane ride away from the next great epidemic of our time.  As with the epidemics of our past, our generations nasty super bugs seem to be more prevalent in poverty stricken areas of the world, they are gaining access to everyone through the routes of the selfless doctors and relief workers traveling far and wide to help them.

These days are filled with stories of ebola and Marburg unbelievably devastating hemorrhagic fevers with no know cure, HIV/AIDS, S.A.R.S., and Avian influenza.   Ebola does not seem to be as great of a threat to those outside the breakout area due to the quickness of the disease (incubation starts within two days), the real threat is in the medical labs across the world that are in possession of the virus and any mistake could be extremely deadly.  There is also concern of the virus getting in the “wrong hands” and being used either alone or in combination with other viruses as biological warfare.  Thankfully it is such a lethal and scary disease that it isn’t tops on the lists of disease to use in such a way.  AIDS/HIV is probably the most widespread epidemic of our time, especially when you considered there isn’t a country it seems that doesn’t have cases of it.