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The Making of a Tropical Disease
316 pages, 2011
science & nature
1064 booksMalaria sickens hundreds of millions of people — and kills one to three million — each time. Despite massive sweats to annihilate the complaint, it remains a major public health problem in poorer tropical regions. But malaria has not always been concentrated in tropical areas. How did other regions control malaria, and why does the complaint still flourish in some corridors of the globe?
From Russia to Bengal to Palm Beach, Randall Packard’s far-ranging narrative traces the natural and social forces that help malaria spread and make it deadly. He finds that war, land development, worsening health systems, and globalization — coupled with climate change and changes in the distribution and inflow of water — produce conditions in which malaria carrier mosquitoes thrive.
The combination of these forces, Packard contends, makes the tropical regions a perfect home for the disease. Authoritative, fascinating, and eye-opening, this short history of malaria concludes with policy recommendations for perfecting control strategies and saving lives.
In 'The Making of a Tropical Disease', Randall M. Packard takes us on a journey through the history of malaria. He explores how this disease, once prevalent in Europe and North America, became associated primarily with tropical regions. It's a fascinating look into the evolution of a disease and its impact on society.
Packard digs into the social and economic factors that have contributed to the spread of malaria. He shows us that it's not just about the biology of the disease, but also about poverty, living conditions, and public health policies. This book will make you see the bigger picture of disease control.
One of the key takeaways from the book is the role of colonialism in the spread of malaria. Packard explores how colonial policies and practices contributed to the disease's prevalence in tropical regions. It's a thought-provoking look into the unintended consequences of colonial rule.
Packard also takes a critical look at the reliance on technological solutions for malaria control. He argues that these approaches have often failed because they don't address the underlying social and economic conditions that allow the disease to thrive. This book will make you rethink the way we approach disease control.
In 'The Making of a Tropical Disease', Packard makes a compelling case for comprehensive approaches to disease control. He argues that we need to address the social and economic conditions that contribute to the spread of diseases like malaria, not just the diseases themselves. This book will inspire you to think more broadly about public health.
