1b. There's a relationship between physical factors & the prevalence of disease which can change over time

Question 1

What physical + climatic factors influence disease?

Answer 1

• Climate e.g temp, reainfall, humidity etc
• Seasons e.g flu occurs in colder season, Malaria in warm seasons
• Relief e.g Altitude impacts temperature
• Water Sources e.g land locked, coastal, stagnant water, fresh water (rainfall + flooding influences risk of water borne diseases) etc
• Location e.g isolated, urban etc
• Climate change - alters patterns of disease due to weather changes

Question 2

Conditions that influence spread of zoonotic disease

Answer 2

• Sanitation
• Climate e.g. warm/ tropical
• Diet e.g. Meat can cause salmonella
• Transport networks - relocation diffusion
• Urbanisation - increased interconnection
• Farming - LIDCS have less access to animal vaccines = increased spread of TB in cows

Question 3

Seasonality of disease outbreak: Malaria (Ethiopia)

Answer 3

• Addis Ababa (Capital ) = >2000m above sea level = cooler temperatures = less susceptible to Malaria
• Lower regions have warmer temps = increase risk of Malaria
• Low socio-economic index + poor healthcare & education = increased risk

Synoptic:
- Global warming is increasing risk of vector born diseases due to climatic changes
- Political instability = reduced funds fro vector control
- TNC’s locate in Addis Ababa because of cold climates = increased strutted economic change attracting new foreign investments which can improve RofL + social necessities

Question 4

Seasonality of disease outbreak: Bilharzia (Southern Africa)

Answer 4

• Mostly contracted in Southern Africa
• Common areas of infection:
  Lake Malawi,
  Nile river,
  Lake Victoria,
• Disease spread via snails in stagnant water to humans & is caused by a parasitic worm
• Poor healthcare + sanitation + lack of fresh water + lack of infrastructure = increased risk
• Seasonal, during the wet season

Synoptic:
- Occurs in low socio- economic areas
- Water sources are necessary for disease to spread
- Migration of people spread disease

Question 5

Seasonality of disease outbreak: Malaria (Uganda)

Answer 5

• 2020 = they had the 1/3 highest number of global cases + deaths
• Increase risk during rainy season as mosquitos bread in stagnant water
• SW + central regions of Uganda have fertile land & lots of vegetation due to high rainfall = increased neighbourhood effect via farmers + higher population density

Synoptic:
- Weather increased flooding = increased risk of infection
- Displacement of people to camps/slums = increased neighbourhood effect
- Climate = hot, humid, wet

Question 6

Seasonality of disease outbreak: Influenza (UK)

Answer 6

• Spreads through coughs + sneezes
• Kills approx 25,000 per year
• Causes 8000 GP visits per year
• Most common in temperate regions
• Occurs in cold climates

Synoptic:
- April 2009 = H1N1 virus = global pandemic
- Vaccines made use strains of the virus that are predicted to circulate each season
- close contact increase rate of transmission (neighbourhood effect)