If are someone that keeps themselves updated about
global issues then you probably know that the infection rate caused by viruses,
bacteria, fungi and parasites is quite high. New research is providing a
possible solution or a way to predict meningitis outbreaks in Sub-Saharan
Africa. A research project looked at the link between, dusty and windy weather
conditions and outbreaks of disease. Unfortunately, that’s about as descriptive
as the author was when they explained how the link between weather conditions
and meningitis outbreaks would help predict the location, size and duration of
epidemics like the author mentioned in the article. The article clearly stated
what the researchers intended to do with the findings. The author quoted the lead researcher, Dr. Madeleine
Thomson who said “The long term aim is to develop a forecasting system
which can be used by health organizations to prevent and control
epidemics." I like the fact that the purpose of the article was clearly
stated because it’s straight forward and easy to understand. The research can
lead to an early season warning/alert system that can provide strategies, health
teams, and vaccine shots ready. The author mentioned at the end of the article
that dry and dusty winds were accepted as a contributor to epidemic outbreaks. A
question I have is that if that’s the case, then where are the
meningitis-causing bacteria coming from?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/categories/infectious_diseases/
 |
| http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1178335/thumbs/r-MENINGITIS-VACCINE-BILL-GATES-large570.jpg?6 |
Noel, this article is interesting because my blog for this week was about how bacteria travel globally. I am really excited to see that scientists can take information from one project and apply it to another. These two projects may not be directly linked but the concept of microorganisms traveling and being able to detect when there will be an outbreak is amazing. I hope that this research gets fully developed and funded because there is no price on saving lives. There is so much information about microbes and there is still a ton that needs to be understood about these tiny creatures that co-inhabit our planet. Understanding them and their behavior will open many doors for us and we will be able to live healthier and longer lives. Microorganisms have to rely on their environments in order for them to travel around because they do not have conscious minds that work like ours. They cannot simply wake up one morning and say “Hey I think I am going to get on an airplane and travel to Africa.” This is why we need to understand our influences on them because they influence our lives in huge ways.
ReplyDelete