Geographi
cal
Debates:
Disease
Dilemmas
,Contents
1. What are the global patterns of disease and can factors be identified that determine them?..........................3
A. Diseases can be classified and their patterns mapped. The spread of diseases is complex and influenced by
a number of factors...........................................................................................................................................3
B. There is a relationship between physical factors and the prevalence of disease which changes over time...4
C. Natural hazards can influence the outbreak and spread of disease...............................................................5
2. Is there a link between disease and the level of economic development?........................................................6
A. As countries develop economically the frequency of communicable disease decrease, while the
prevalence of non-communicable diseases rises...............................................................................................6
3. How effectively are communicable and non-communicable diseases dealt with?............................................8
A. Communicable diseases have causes and impacts with mitigation and response strategies which have
varying levels of success....................................................................................................................................8
B. Non-communicable diseases have causes and impacts with mitigation and response strategies which have
varying levels of success..................................................................................................................................10
4. How far can disease be predicted and mitigated against?...............................................................................11
A. Increasing global mobility impacts the diffusion of disease and the ability to respond to it at a variety of
scales...............................................................................................................................................................11
B. Mitigation strategies to combat global pandemics and overcome physical barriers....................................13
5. Can diseases ever be fully eradicated?............................................................................................................14
A. Nature has provided medicines to treat diseases for thousands of years....................................................14
B. Top-down and bottom-up strategies that deal with disease risk and eradication........................................16
Personalised Learning Checklist...........................................................................................................................18
Page 2 of 20
, Geographical Debates: Disease Dilemmas
1. What are the global patterns of disease and can factors be
identified that determine them?
A. Diseases can be classified and their patterns mapped. The spread of
diseases is complex and influenced by a number of factors.
Word Definition E.g.
Infectious Caused by pathogens: Bacteria, Virus, Parasite, Hepatitis.
Fungi. Disease can spread directly or indirectly from
one person to another.
Non-Infectious They arise from inside the body as a result of Diabetes.
hereditary conditions or other causes, such as
dietary deficiencies.
Communicable Infectious disease transmissible by direct contact HIV/AIDS.
with affected individual or individual’s discharges or
by indirect means.
Non-Communicable Also known as chronic diseases. Long duration and Cataracts.
slow progress. Main diseases include Cardiovascular
Diseases, Chronic Disorders and Diabetes.
Contagious A disease spread by contact or indirect contact Polio.
between people.
Non-Contagious Requires special mode of transmission between Zika.
people of hosts, by non-casual transfer of bodily
fluid.
Epidemic Increase in the number of cases of a disease above Malaria.
what is normally expected in the population of an
area.
Endemic A disease that exits permanently in a geographical Guinea Worm
area or human group. Disease.
Pandemic An epidemic that has spread over several countries Covid-19.
or continents, affecting a large number of people.
Zoonotic Disease that can be spread between animals and Tuberculosis.
humans.
Global Distribution of Malaria: High rates around the Equator and Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Global Distribution of HIV: High rates of HIV, mainly found in areas of weaker economies, e.g. Africa.
Global Distribution of Tuberculosis (TB): High rates of TB are found in LIDCs and EDCs, predominantly in Sub-
Saharan Africa.
Global Distribution of Diabetes: Geopolitical Superpowers mainly have the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes.
Global Distribution of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): Geopolitical Superpowers and ACs have higher rates of
CVD.
Disease Diffusion
Definition: The process of a disease spreading outwards from its origin across space.
Page 3 of 20
cal
Debates:
Disease
Dilemmas
,Contents
1. What are the global patterns of disease and can factors be identified that determine them?..........................3
A. Diseases can be classified and their patterns mapped. The spread of diseases is complex and influenced by
a number of factors...........................................................................................................................................3
B. There is a relationship between physical factors and the prevalence of disease which changes over time...4
C. Natural hazards can influence the outbreak and spread of disease...............................................................5
2. Is there a link between disease and the level of economic development?........................................................6
A. As countries develop economically the frequency of communicable disease decrease, while the
prevalence of non-communicable diseases rises...............................................................................................6
3. How effectively are communicable and non-communicable diseases dealt with?............................................8
A. Communicable diseases have causes and impacts with mitigation and response strategies which have
varying levels of success....................................................................................................................................8
B. Non-communicable diseases have causes and impacts with mitigation and response strategies which have
varying levels of success..................................................................................................................................10
4. How far can disease be predicted and mitigated against?...............................................................................11
A. Increasing global mobility impacts the diffusion of disease and the ability to respond to it at a variety of
scales...............................................................................................................................................................11
B. Mitigation strategies to combat global pandemics and overcome physical barriers....................................13
5. Can diseases ever be fully eradicated?............................................................................................................14
A. Nature has provided medicines to treat diseases for thousands of years....................................................14
B. Top-down and bottom-up strategies that deal with disease risk and eradication........................................16
Personalised Learning Checklist...........................................................................................................................18
Page 2 of 20
, Geographical Debates: Disease Dilemmas
1. What are the global patterns of disease and can factors be
identified that determine them?
A. Diseases can be classified and their patterns mapped. The spread of
diseases is complex and influenced by a number of factors.
Word Definition E.g.
Infectious Caused by pathogens: Bacteria, Virus, Parasite, Hepatitis.
Fungi. Disease can spread directly or indirectly from
one person to another.
Non-Infectious They arise from inside the body as a result of Diabetes.
hereditary conditions or other causes, such as
dietary deficiencies.
Communicable Infectious disease transmissible by direct contact HIV/AIDS.
with affected individual or individual’s discharges or
by indirect means.
Non-Communicable Also known as chronic diseases. Long duration and Cataracts.
slow progress. Main diseases include Cardiovascular
Diseases, Chronic Disorders and Diabetes.
Contagious A disease spread by contact or indirect contact Polio.
between people.
Non-Contagious Requires special mode of transmission between Zika.
people of hosts, by non-casual transfer of bodily
fluid.
Epidemic Increase in the number of cases of a disease above Malaria.
what is normally expected in the population of an
area.
Endemic A disease that exits permanently in a geographical Guinea Worm
area or human group. Disease.
Pandemic An epidemic that has spread over several countries Covid-19.
or continents, affecting a large number of people.
Zoonotic Disease that can be spread between animals and Tuberculosis.
humans.
Global Distribution of Malaria: High rates around the Equator and Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Global Distribution of HIV: High rates of HIV, mainly found in areas of weaker economies, e.g. Africa.
Global Distribution of Tuberculosis (TB): High rates of TB are found in LIDCs and EDCs, predominantly in Sub-
Saharan Africa.
Global Distribution of Diabetes: Geopolitical Superpowers mainly have the highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes.
Global Distribution of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): Geopolitical Superpowers and ACs have higher rates of
CVD.
Disease Diffusion
Definition: The process of a disease spreading outwards from its origin across space.
Page 3 of 20
