While measuring the level of detail associated with disease prevention, this document draws comparison to what drives us to protect ourselves from illness. Our society has undergone many disease pandemics. “Mad Cow Disease”, “Anthrax”, “West Nile”, “S.A.R.S”, “H1N1”, and now the new “Coronavirus” or (COVID-19). Due to the fact that there is a general consensus for disease prevention measures, these epidemics have been handled with minimal casualties. Our current technological advancements allow us to share information faster and more efficiently, sharing medical details and information on a global scale. The way that disease causality is documented by the survivors, will explain the symptoms and affects. This will be itemized by; gestation period, methods of transference, complications, origins, life cycle, prevention measures and any known cures and/or vaccinations. When a major pandemic strikes, medical professionals work to limit the damage done to the general public. One of the earliest and most prominent methods of disease prevention was following its infection pattern (Victoria, pg.18 paragraph 2).
Prior to the discovery of modern medicine and antibiotics, disease was a common way that people would pass away; but the most feared, devastating way that people will die of disease, was known as a plague. Disease prevention is usually delegated toward infection style pandemics. Degenerative disease and conditions such as cancer, obesity and brain malfunctions are not delegated in the same fashion. Before the 1500’s, the medical practices that were utilized were not based completely on science, but on pseudoscience and speculation. This time period involved many different practices that did not help the patient at all, but sometimes made the situation much worse. Bloodletting, leeches, smelling strong odours and baking people in mercury were some of the inhumane ideas that were experimented with, prior to modern medicine. This is one of the reasons why disease prevention measures became so prominent. Serious illnesses such as the “Bubonic Plague” that came to fruition in 532, forced society to start practicing some form of disease prevention measures. This also means that they developed some form of understanding of the transference of microorganisms or unclean material. Leprosy, smallpox, tuberculosis, the black plague and the syphilis are examples of early disease epidemics that caused the death and suffering of millions of individuals throughout history.
Finding ways to combat illness such as clean water supplies, food inspection and quarantine, were some of the methods used in antiquity to prevent disease. Initially, quarantine was set for 14 days, but was changed to 40-day periods as more and more knowledge about how disease functions became fact. A plague is a form of disease that causes the death and destruction of many humans, animals and plants at once. There have been many historical cases of plague infections throughout history. Before understanding how disease can be transferred, there are many ways for microorganisms to manifest themselves in their hosts. The Black Plague killed over 70,000,000 Europeans alone during its life cycle, decimating livestock and humans alone.
Communication Networks
It was the year 1937, during the month of October. A travelling ship that was coming home from one of the standard travel routes, used for trading of goods and services, returned back to a Sicilian port. The passengers aboard were festering with disease, and the majority of them were not only dead, but we're still in the same place as they died. The remaining passengers were very ill, and dying themselves. Of course, the boat was turned away, and not allowed to dock at the Port. But unfortunately, based on how illness and disease was spread during a time. Before inoculations and basic sanitation, the damage had already been done.
Another reason why plagues spread so quickly during the time period before the 1500’s was the lack of standard communication networks that we now have today. Without shared knowledge of a disease in a specific area, one other area will be unprepared for its effects, and residual damage. Before the black plague arrived in Europe, it had already run through Asia, India and Egypt decimating multiple cities, towns and villages. Our ability to share and combine knowledge is very essential to our general safety and well-being. Due to the gestation period of the disease, it was very uncertain of how it was spread at all. Disease would pop up in random locations, and there seemed to be no control over our understanding of how it was spread or brought to that location initially. Based on the fact that it was transferred from insects, it ended up being discovered that rats carrying parasites such as ticks and fleas were responsible for spreading the disease through blood transference. This means that a single rat carrying a tick that stows away on board a travelling ship would have been able to spread the disease to multiple parties without them knowing. Once the infection has been transferred from animal to human hosts, it can then be spread through contact with other people. This made the disease spread extremely quickly, and do an insurmountable amount of damage in a short amount of time. The disease killed its sufferers within a week, but some of the symptoms would not have been visible for a few days prior to them becoming visibly and physically ill. During this time, they were still able to spread the disease to others and were infectious themselves without having knowledge of it. The extremely large amount of deaths caused by the Black Plague, made a very drastic change and how society functioned for Europeans. Opening more doors for unoccupied Farmland, survivors of the pandemic, were able to take over where others left off. One of the reasons why European settlers were able to colonize in the fashion that they have, was the fact that only 2% of those who were susceptible to the disease, were able to survive. This meant many indigenous peoples, and others perished. The use of disease as a militaristic colouring method, has been practiced like European settlers colour giving disease covered items to unsuspecting Native Americans.
The plague was coined “Black Death” in the year 1850, but prior to that it has many names. It also infected animals and killed livestock very quickly, spreading to humans along the way through transference. Specific areas that are isolated from the general populace who were infected, seemingly disappeared as the disease swept through and killed every single human and animal without having any outside communication. After such incidents took place, these areas were only discovered with aerial photography depicting World War II by planes and other aircraft for reconnaissance purposes. Based on the amount of people who died during the disease's transgression, it has been noted to be responsible for the deaths of half the planet's population from the year 1300, 1720. Cases and outbreaks can still be found today, but it is a treatable condition. Of course this also led to many religious, philosophical notions attached to its purpose, and its overall resolve, shaping the beliefs of many while creating an outlet for some form of understanding.
Due to the unsanitary conditions of many of the less affluent members of society during that time period, disease was a rampant issue. This was also prior to the discovery of antibiotics, or proper medical treatments. In some instances, the use of moss from rotting corpses was administered as a health measure. Mercury injections and enemas were also used, but of course were effective, if not causing more damage to the sufferer.
Prevention Measures
Before the knowledge of how microorganisms function, there are many instances of what we would consider extremely filthy environments that people living before the 1500s considered normal. Due to the weaker immune systems of people during that time period, they were more susceptible to becoming ill. Corpses, and suspected clothing and materials were subsequently burned. The use of long bird-like masks that had special breathing apparatus were adorned by doctors who dealt with patients. They would also cover their bodies and long disposable clothing and hats, to limit their contact with the sick individuals. Disease prevention measures were isolation, and quarantine procedures (York University, 2005).
The year 1348 marks the date that the first case of the black plague hit the Streets of London England. Dealing with disease issues was handled by quarantining a sick individual and the entire family in their home. Marking the door with a red cross, and waiting for the disease to run its course without social interaction. Though many attempts were made, it did not stop the rapid spread, as it was not only delegated to individuals interacting with each other. As many knew that the city itself had many social and cleanliness issues, the culprit was blamed on the prominent amount of fecal matter and trash that was left on the street along with animal activity. There was an abundance of farm animals, along with household pets, breeding in an uncontrolled fashion. Some animals were kept in sanitary and clean conditions, while others remained loose and free to defecate and or die wherever was available. As clean-up efforts were a definite community and social focus, it still was not enough to eliminate the spread of various illnesses. Realization of the disease resulted in the elimination of cats and dogs with the ultimate death toll leading to 40,000 dogs being destroyed, and 80,000 plus cats.
Plague Orders
Plague orders can be seen today, by our government official announcing specific rules along with the punishment attached for those not following disease prevention measures. Prior to the establishment of our communication networks, plague orders were given to religious leaders, and acting prisoners who said they had the knowledge of how to deal with an impending case if it should strike the general facility. The order also came with a list of signs and symptoms so the disease can be recognized. Meetings would be held, or signs put in place; whatever is the best way to alert the public safety (Barret, 2004). Social advocacy of disease prevention. The known social stigma attached to detrimental disease causes emotional and psychological negative impacts on those who are forced to change their daily lives. Using the positive aspect of Disease Control, is what first generated social advocacy groups. Social advocacy also helps share the information with others, and preserves the necessary facts and details.(barret, pg.43 paragraph 2. This is also when social and political policies are more affected. Where finances are allocated, and who receives specific benefits will change when the public has a formulated opinion and works together. To maximize their effect on those who need help the most, social health advocacy groups usually do not include the more prominent or affluent members of society, or those who are more likely to provide political alterations. Medical advocacy groups can be made up of medical professionals, patients of a disease, survivors of a particular disease, caregivers, or simply those who have a social interest in benefiting others.
Avocation practices include knowledge, sharing that knowledge with others, and preventative measures. They are always directly related to effective solutions with some form of social or medical backing. Scientific availability, and the knowledge of those who are responsible for its administration, are usually what effects changes to disease prevention. Considering how diseases affect society, and especially without understanding how disease transfers, or where it comes from, the public will not be able to form preventative measures. Even before inventions such as penicillin and inoculations, efforts have always been in place to help protect us from microorganisms. The lessons learned from Mass pandemics such as quarantine prevention measures, also teach society today about multiple forms of prevention levels. Screening those who are susceptible to disease, and finding ways to locate where and when the pathogen is, is also tied to quarantine and isolation procedures. Once the disease has been completely understood, vaccinations and other forms of Heroes can be formulated. But until the actual disease is controlled, finding ways to handle it will always be that much more difficult. Learning from the past, and practicing what has worked, is what the majority of the active Progressive countries have done today (Task Force, 1996).
References
“Guide to clinical preventive services: report of the US Preventive Services Task Force” US
Preventive Services Task Force, United States. Office of Disease Prevention, Health Promotion US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 1996
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