Biologist Dr. Jonathan Davies explains that reducing the prevalence of diseases in areas most affected by them is a far more effective and efficient strategy than trying to eradicate them altogether, which is extremely difficult and costs billions of dollars. What's more, he said, new research shows that the most at-risk populations can be identified using just three variables.
A great diversity of local mammals and birds in a region, a large human population and ineffective disease control efforts point to a high-prevalence of disease. Climate plays a role in determining how many different kinds of diseases there are, but not how many people will suffer from them.
In addition to the health benefits, the research team points out that disease affects human behaviour, the politics and political stability of countries, human fertility, global economies and more generally the course and dynamics of human history.
Full article: http://www.genengnews.com/industry-...ease-is-a-waste-of-money-researcher/80172983/
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Global drivers of human pathogen richness and prevalence
Robert R. Dunn1,*, T. Jonathan Davies2,3, Nyeema C. Harris1 and Michael C. Gavin4
Abstract
The differences in the richness and prevalence of human pathogens among different geographical locations have ramifying consequences for societies and individuals. The relative contributions of different factors to these patterns, however, have not been fully resolved. We conduct a global analysis of the relative influence of climate, alternative host diversity and spending on disease prevention on modern patterns in the richness and prevalence of human pathogens. Pathogen richness (number of kinds) is largely explained by the number of birds and mammal species in a region. The most diverse countries with respect to birds and mammals are also the most diverse with respect to pathogens. Importantly, for human health, the prevalence of key human pathogens (number of cases) is strongly influenced by disease control efforts. As a consequence, even where disease richness is high, we might still control prevalence, particularly if we spend money in those regions where current spending is low, prevalence is high and populations are large.
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Author Affiliations
1Department of Biology and Keck Behavioral Biology Group, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
2National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
3Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1
4School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
*Author for correspondence (rob_dunn@ncsu.edu).
Pay to see full text but the data supplement is free to view.
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/04/08/rspb.2010.0340.abstract
A great diversity of local mammals and birds in a region, a large human population and ineffective disease control efforts point to a high-prevalence of disease. Climate plays a role in determining how many different kinds of diseases there are, but not how many people will suffer from them.
In addition to the health benefits, the research team points out that disease affects human behaviour, the politics and political stability of countries, human fertility, global economies and more generally the course and dynamics of human history.
Full article: http://www.genengnews.com/industry-...ease-is-a-waste-of-money-researcher/80172983/
----------------------------------------------------------
Global drivers of human pathogen richness and prevalence
Robert R. Dunn1,*, T. Jonathan Davies2,3, Nyeema C. Harris1 and Michael C. Gavin4
Abstract
The differences in the richness and prevalence of human pathogens among different geographical locations have ramifying consequences for societies and individuals. The relative contributions of different factors to these patterns, however, have not been fully resolved. We conduct a global analysis of the relative influence of climate, alternative host diversity and spending on disease prevention on modern patterns in the richness and prevalence of human pathogens. Pathogen richness (number of kinds) is largely explained by the number of birds and mammal species in a region. The most diverse countries with respect to birds and mammals are also the most diverse with respect to pathogens. Importantly, for human health, the prevalence of key human pathogens (number of cases) is strongly influenced by disease control efforts. As a consequence, even where disease richness is high, we might still control prevalence, particularly if we spend money in those regions where current spending is low, prevalence is high and populations are large.
+
Author Affiliations
1Department of Biology and Keck Behavioral Biology Group, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
2National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
3Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr Penfield Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1
4School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
*Author for correspondence (rob_dunn@ncsu.edu).
Pay to see full text but the data supplement is free to view.
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/04/08/rspb.2010.0340.abstract