Debating Disease2012 GMU DEBATE INSTITUTE

Ivan Kyagaba and Young Kwon

1918 Flu Pandemic

• 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic• Killed 20-40 million people—number is higher

than people killed in WW1• Movement of Armies/Trade Routes=spread of

strain/poor living condition.• Spread through North

America/Europe/Asia/Africa/Brazil/South Pacific• Origin is not unknown—thought to have

originated in China in a rare genetic shift—research continuing.

Ebola

• Three types (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo)—associated with outbreaks in Africa.

• Reston species have been found in Western Pacific—but is asymptomatic.

• Health care workers who have not taken proper precaution have been affected.

• No specific vaccine has been developed yet/experiments continued

• 1859 Cases identified over 1200 deaths.

Terberculosis

• Caused by bacteria that often affects lungs• Spreads from air—1/3 of the world population has

latent TB—one that doesn’t trigger symptoms yet.• Second largest killer after AIDS• Treatable/Curable—correct application • Multidrug Resistant TB—doesn’t respond to first-line

vaccinations—primary cause is incorrect use/poor quality medicine

• There are second-line vaccinations—limited/not available to many.

• Annually, about 440 000 fell ill with MDR-TB and 150 000 died due to this form of tuberculosis.

MRSA

• Antibiotic Resistance: the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an anti-biotic

• A bacteria that carries several resistance genes=superbugs.

• Incorrect diagnosis/unnecessary prescriptions/growth hormones

• MRSA (Methicillin-resistant) appeared

Influenza

• Common Name: Flu• Virus• Highly Contagious—spread through airborne droplets/other

agents include animals and fomites.• Type A/B/C—A/B most common—often peak during the

season• Influenza vaccination is used—but in poorer/industrial

nations have less chance of survival• WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network—partnership

with National Influenza Centres for disease monitoring

Avian Influenza

• Bird Flu—viral disease of birds• Doesn’t affect humans, but H5N1—caused serious

infections—associated with direct or indirect contact with infected poultry.

• 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, China, and other Asian regions

• Failure of treatment—gastrointestinal failure—no drug absorption

• Likely chance of pandemic—circulates in poultry populations/no immunity

Swine Flu

• Most swine flu infection have been mild—but 2009 pandemic shows the possibility of massive spread

• Unique—pigs become infected from variety of strains—they act as “mixing vessel” and create new influenza virus.