due Sep 19

This week you were asked to read Chapter 2, “Haiti: Could Street Maps Stop an Epidemic?” You discovered that physicians and scientists in the past traced the sources of waterborne illnesses such as cholera through data collecting and mapping. Today we might assume that the entire world is mapped and addressed, making the source of cholera outbreaks easy to detect. However, the 2010 outbreak in Haiti proves that this is not the case. Many parts of the globe have people living in areas that lack modern plumbing and specific addresses. Also adding to the difficulties of tracing disease origins are local beliefs and political corruption, as was the case in Haiti. New technology using satellite imagery is helping to chart unmapped places. And, genetic tracing of disease strands further aids in hunting down the source.

Seeing visuals often helps us understand the problems facing others. For example, YouTube videos show the Haitian crisis and a lawsuit brought against the United Nations.

CNN: CHOLERA EPIDEMIC SPARKS FEARS IN HAITI:

Haitians seek billions from U.N. over cholera outbreak:

For this lesson’s discussion in 250 words:

1. Reflect and Write: Mapping areas and using street addresses has significantly aided in stopping waterborne diseases at the source. However, the professionals involved in research and data-keeping are often treated poorly by the individuals they are attempting to help. Using evidence from the chapter, choose one or more of the following questions to discuss in your initial post. What parallels can you identify between the cholera outbreaks described in the book and the Covid pandemic? What are some differences? How does the place or address where a person lives affect their health? How can misinformation negatively affect efforts to control outbreaks? How can organizations like Missing MapsLinks to an external site. contribute to quicker identification and containment of outbreaks?