The coronavirus, which has been entering our lives especially since 2020, is encouraging people to think more about epidemics. Deaths, of which we have seen many examples in history, such as Ebola, cholera, AIDS and tuberculosis. of diseases We can say that it has its origin.

In addition, the fact that the origin of these diseases is Africa, where poverty is rampant, may draw attention to the relationship between the disease and geography. Well, really sick by geography Do you have a relationship? Can diseases emerge from certain regions and become epidemics that affect the world? Let’s tackle the problem together.

Increasing population and changing architecture of cities can trigger epidemics.

In countries like Asia and Africa The rapid growth of the human population may lead to more emergence of diseases in these countries. For example, cities in the Asia and Pacific regions, where 60% of the world lives, continue to develop. In fact, according to World Bank statements, about 200 million people migrated to cities in East Asia in the first decade of the 21st century. So we can understand that the area has become quite crowded.

As these migrations will also create the need for new settlements, wooded lands are being destroyed to build new homes. In this case living in forests wild animalsmay have to deal with pets and people. As a result, various viruses can be found to spread through wild animals to urban life.

Animal markets and subsistence farming are other conditions that prepare the environment for the spread of viruses.

The agricultural system in Asia and Africa generally relies on subsistence farming and animal husbandry. In this case, it can be difficult to check whether the animals are regularly sick, because in this farming system it is necessary to feed and shelter the animals. Limited possibilities is known.

For example, cattle, pigs and chickens, which are high-risk animals for carriers of endemic diseases, generally share the same living environment with each other. In addition, these animals constantly interact with other non-pets and humans. close contact seems in shape. Of course, it is not only the problems in the agricultural system that help the spread of disease. At the same time, livestock markets in Asia and Africa are very busy places where many living things, including humans, congregate and are suitable environments for the reproduction of various viruses.

In sub-Saharan Africa in particular, wildlife hunting and slaughter are causing the extinction of some animal species, potentially causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem.

Hunting culture in Sub-Saharan Africa is very dangerous for the transmission and spread of zoonotic diseases. In fact, another danger in this regard is the traditional Chinese medicine culture.

In this culture, parts of the bodies of other wild animals such as tigers, bears, pangolins and rhinoceroses are mixed with medicines used in Chinese medicine. This too human-animal interaction and can make people live more closely with epidemic diseases.

Sources: 12