causes:: Globalization and Transmission

AIDS, as we all are familiar with, has been around since the early 1980's and since HIV has infected millions.

There have been some vaccinations and drugs manufactured for it, but none have been able to terminate it completely. It is spread from person to person through sexual activities, improper disposal of medical waste, from mothers to infants through breast feeding and even birth, sharing of non sterile equipment, and blood transfusions. Many people are misled into believing that it can be spread through saliva, sweat, sharing utensils, toilet seats, swimming pools, casual contact, biting insects, and telephones.

The relatively recent infectious disease, Avian Flu, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and sometimes pigs. Many people believe that all bird species are susceptible to this infection but in fact, the domestic poultry flocks are the more vulnerable. The flu is spread through the bird's droppings making it very easy for a human to become infected.

The HIV virus can spread from country to country because of war. Infected soldiers can spread HIV to a prostitute or the prostitute can pass the disease to the customer. Another way war causes the spread is the travel of refugees to another country or area. This large group of people living in a very small area without proper sanitary facilities can cause the spread of diseases, including AIDS, to spread rapidly resulting in the infection to other parts of the area. In some Middle Eastern countries there are short-term marriages. These along with sex-tourism are some of the causes of the spreading of AIDS from country to country. A very important reason that this virus is spreading from country to country is because countries do not publicize the disease. They do not want their tourism industry to be affected so it is kept a secret for the fear of a downturn in the economy.

The Avian flu is having a massive impact on certain countries today. Some countries are trying to ban all poultry which has been imported from an infected area, for the fear of catching the highly contagious flu. As for the countries already infected, the WHO has tried to convince the countries to use widespread mass culling. This has proved so far to be the best method in stopping the spread of the disease.

Also, poverty and diseases are linked in a vicious cycle. Poor people simply cannot choose where they live and they are more susceptible to infection when they are living in a slum with bad hygiene. The lack of funding, health education, primary care of doctors and nurses, medicine and even infrastructure often fail the healthcare efforts in poor countries. Unfortunately, financial aids to developing countries are often suspended because of political instability, corruption and mismanagement of resources. As a result, infectious diseases are spreading in developing countries rapidly because of lack of proper healthcare and education.

next page:: impacts:: Impacts on Human Health

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causes:: Globalization and Transmission
Major infectious diseases today continue to infect many lives. Diseases such as AIDS and especially the latest outbreak of Avian Flu have devastated the countries which have been infected and will continue to do so unless a vaccine is developed in the near future. They spread from people to people, and country to country. AIDS, as we all are familiar with, has been around since the early 1980's and since HIV has infected millions.	http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/a/an/andrewmill/280818_9124.jpg
There have been some vaccinations and drugs manufactured for it, but none have been able to terminate it completely. It is spread from person to person through sexual activities, improper disposal of medical waste, from mothers to infants through breast feeding and even birth, sharing of non sterile equipment, and blood transfusions. Many people are misled into believing that it can be spread through saliva, sweat, sharing utensils, toilet seats, swimming pools, casual contact, biting insects, and telephones.
http://static.flickr.com/20/70151040_994530726b.jpg?v=0	The relatively recent infectious disease, Avian Flu, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and sometimes pigs. Many people believe that all bird species are susceptible to this infection but in fact, the domestic poultry flocks are the more vulnerable. The flu is spread through the bird's droppings making it very easy for a human to become infected.
The migratory birds can carry the virus over long distances and across national borders. These migratory birds include wild waterfowl, sea birds, and shore birds. It is spread from animal to human through ways such as eating infected meat, bad hygiene in wet markets, and something even as easy as the droppings clinging to clothing, shoes, or luggage. International trade in live poultry and worldwide travel also contribute to the spread of the disease from country to country at a faster pace. The HIV virus can spread from country to country because of war. Infected soldiers can spread HIV to a prostitute or the prostitute can pass the disease to the customer. Another way war causes the spread is the travel of refugees to another country or area. This large group of people living in a very small area without proper sanitary facilities can cause the spread of diseases, including AIDS, to spread rapidly resulting in the infection to other parts of the area. In some Middle Eastern countries there are short-term marriages. These along with sex-tourism are some of the causes of the spreading of AIDS from country to country. A very important reason that this virus is spreading from country to country is because countries do not publicize the disease. They do not want their tourism industry to be affected so it is kept a secret for the fear of a downturn in the economy.
http://static.flickr.com/20/71395897_113a98592e.jpg?v=0	The Avian flu is having a massive impact on certain countries today. Some countries are trying to ban all poultry which has been imported from an infected area, for the fear of catching the highly contagious flu. As for the countries already infected, the WHO has tried to convince the countries to use widespread mass culling. This has proved so far to be the best method in stopping the spread of the disease.
Unfortunately the majority of governments have only been able to perform a limited amount of this culling, because of the majority favor vaccinating poultry first, especially the farmers. Though the government has taken in hand the expense of compensating farmers, many farmers feel that the compensation they received from the government is far below what they can earn from selling poultries in the market, so they just keep the poultries away from health inspectors and infected poultries are often left unchecked. Also, poverty and diseases are linked in a vicious cycle. Poor people simply cannot choose where they live and they are more susceptible to infection when they are living in a slum with bad hygiene. The lack of funding, health education, primary care of doctors and nurses, medicine and even infrastructure often fail the healthcare efforts in poor countries. Unfortunately, financial aids to developing countries are often suspended because of political instability, corruption and mismanagement of resources. As a result, infectious diseases are spreading in developing countries rapidly because of lack of proper healthcare and education.
next page:: impacts:: Impacts on Human Health