Reflection Paper #3

REFLECTION PAPER ON: “THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN ACTIONS ON
RISKS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES: A REVIEW” By Johanna F. Lindahl, Dvm,

PhD AND Delia Grace, DVM, PhD
Marc Jalen Relador BAEL AE11
GE 107 Science, Technology, and Society (1:00 P.M.-2:30 P.M. –Monday/Thursday)
As of today, the whole world is facing a crisis not like any other due to a new strain of
virus called as COVID-19. The infectious virus has been first identified to have emerged in
a sea food market in Wuhan, China according to several news reports around the globe.
Also, the WHO (World Health Organization), had the same reports about the occurrence of
the new virus. China is identified as one of the global giants in the world. But unfortunately,
they are also are somehow the ones spreading highly infectious disease. Just like what
happened during 2003. China was also responsible for the spread SARS-CoV1. The people
infected at that time was not too much of what is happening at the present time.
The second strain of SARS-CoV 2 and disease it causes is called as COVID-19.

COVID-19 came from the zoonotic pathogens of an animal called as bat and was
transmitted to humans. Zoonotic pathogens are the kind of pathogens that are transmitted
from wild animals to humans. Before we go further, let us define pathogens. Pathogens are
infectious organisms or an agent that causes different types of diseases.
In the article, the author discusses about inappropriate actions done by humans that
causes the spread of different kinds of disease. On the other hand, the spread of disease was
also caused by changes on the environment due to pollution, overconsumption of species in
the environment, and etc. Furthermore, because of these factors, it can lead to :endanger
human health by causing food and water scarcity, increasing the risks for natural disasters
and dislocations of populations, and growing the hazards of infectious diseases (3), which is
the emphasis of the article. Likewise, they said about EID. EID (Emerging infectious
disease) is the spread of disease in which incidence in humans has been increasing; a
disease which manages to multiply geographically, cause an enhanced occurrence, or affect
a new species or new populations; or, a disease increasing within any host population.
The same article also tackles different types of pathogens namely: Viruses, Bacteria,
Fungi, Parasites, and Prions. The first pathogen is the Virus. It is an infectious agent of a
tiny amount and simple structure that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or
bacteria. Second is bacteria, in singular form bacterium. Is some of a cluster of tiny single-
celled organisms that live in massive numbers in approximately every environment on
Earth, from deep-sea vents to deep below Earth’s surface to the digestive tracts of humans.
As for the Fungus, plural fungi, any of about 144,000 known species of organisms, which
includes the yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. Meanwhile, a parasite is
an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from its host. Lastly, a
Prion disease comprises numerous conditions. A prion is a type of protein that can cause
normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally. Prion diseases can affect both humans and
animals and are sometimes spread to humans by contaminated meat products. Lastly, an
Arbo viral disease is a broad term used to describe infections. It is caused by a group of
viruses that easily spreads to people by the sting of infected insects such as mosquitoes and
ticks. These infections usually occur during warm climate months when mosquitoes and
ticks are active.
Now that we know the different types of pathogens, where could the pathogen that
causes disease came from? One factor is people who have animals that don’t know the
proper waste disposal. Because of this, it could lead to contamination of the owner of the
animal and causes disease also with the ones he /she interacts with. For that reason, people
should be properly oriented to avoid the occurrence of this kind event. Also, another factor
if one individual is already a carrier of a pathogen, he could spread it to others who are
vulnerable to diseases.
Moreover, a country lacking ability and fund to fight a disease can increase the
number of infected individuals. In accordance with this, the lack of knowledge on how to
fight a disease is major factor in spreading a disease. An example is our country, the
Philippines. The government is not ready for a pandemic. We have an inadequate health
system. Which makes it harder to poorer people to live every day and being anxious with
the risk of getting the disease or virus COVID-19.
The world is in jeopardy because of the pandemic. No one knows when will this
end. Some of the health systems of other countries are already deteriorating because of the
non-stop addition of COVID-19 cases every day. But the article, suggests to have given
more emphasis on the understanding better on how to be handling interactions of humans to
prevent the spread of pathogens. Thus, we should be vigilant always on what could happen
in the next generation and be free to do what we want. But, without compromising others
and may perhaps prevent another pandemic. Perhaps, it is the indication that the world is in
peril and the end of human kind.

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REFLECTION PAPER ON: “THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN ACTIONS ON

RISKS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES: A REVIEW” By Johanna F. Lindahl, Dvm,

Marc Jalen Relador BAEL AE11

GE 107 Science, Technology, and Society (1:00 P.M.-2:30 P.M. –Monday/Thursday)

The second strain of SARS-CoV 2 and disease it causes is called as COVID-19.

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