Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Article: http://www.converge.org.nz/pirm/lurgi.htm
Globalisation has allowed it to become easier for people to move from one place to another around the world; people from different parts of the world are able to interact with one another more frequently as compared to the past. The activities that we engage in also cause us to come into contact with animals that carry viruses. These viruses may remain dormant in us, but it may also evolve such that it can survive in humans. Because of these two factors, the spread of disease has grown over the years.
The various human activities have made humans come into contact with carriers of viruses that were originally not found in humans, and lead to the mutation of these viruses, making them able to thrive in human beings. For example, Marburg and yellow fever viruses, were originally infections of monkeys; Rift Valley fever was an inherited infection of mosquitoes; and hanta virus was maintained in rodent populations. The increase in human activity and interactions with animal hosts of viruses allowed opportunities for humans to host viruses that were not originally found in human beings.
Thus, the spread of infectious disease has been increasing over the years, not just because of the increase in human interactions across the world, but also because of human activity which introduces man to viruses that were not found in humans before.
It is possible for us to make use of the improvements in communication to develop and find cures for such diseases. We can build upon each other’s technologies and ideas to produce an antidote for such viruses as quickly as possible. But without globalisation in the first place, will there even be a need for us to find a cure for all these infections and diseases?
Environmental expert
Jean Ng
2D'06
; i'm lovin' it
