Schistosomiasis and humanity are like many other diseases interconnected in a way as humanities actions in the environment have allowed Schistosomiasis to spread to locations it has never has never been seen in before along with allowing it to infect a much wider range of people. More specifically it seems that agricultural projects and water programs are the main culprit of this as these programs generally create locations where humans more willing enter and were schistosomiasis and the snails it infects can thrive (98 INHORN & BROWN). To understand why this occurs we must remember Schistosomiasis’ life cycle. A majority of it takes place within fresh water where it hatches after being expelled from an infected human, infects fresh water snails,
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This is mostly because such a move gave schistosomiasis the chance to truly thrive. This is because moving into an agricultural society has led to some groups settling in one location and as a result it led to groups using a specific water source for years if not decades. The consistent use of the same water sources by a settled population leads to increase in exposure to parasites as well as facilizing their life cycle (Perry). His is mostly because by settling and using only a few water sources the group ensures that the parasite would have a population continuously go to the infected source allowing to continue to infect and live, especially during a time where modern medicine was unknown or in location where it is inaccessible. Another reason that sedentary life assisted schistosomiasis is the fact that it gave it a very desirable and efficient life cycle as it had fresh water that was frequently used and occupied by humans allowing to breed and prosper as humans would always use it and return even if infected and continue to do for generations unless they move. Even then should the group move some would be infected and bring the parasite to there next home. Hunters and gathers on the other hand didn’t have to deal with this as much due to the fact that they did not have to relay on a select few sources of water …show more content…
Despite this though there have efforts to combat it, but if the data is anything to go by the battles have not been the most successful as schistosomiasis is currently “infecting more than 200 million people, with death estimates of up to 200,000 per year” and that is continuing to grow (Pimentel). Many of the programs combating this disease are usually for ethical or developmental reason as they wish to bring down mortality or raise children’s test scores, which data has shown that doesn’t really affect it (Bhargava). The main issue though in combating this parasitic disease though is the fact that its habitat is the very thing humans need to survive fresh water, coupled with the fact that we use freshwater to also crops, bath, and in religious ceremonies we can see why it’s difficult to combat schistosomiasis. Even then combating it isn’t as simple as curing it as the parasite can easily re-enter the body after it has been removed from it and generally does due to the fact that most communities are usually in locations were their main water supply is generally outside in open air and used by many people. Religion itself even plays a role as muslims usually have higher infections due to their wudu or cleansing bath they do before prayer, which makes combating the disease much more difficult as they cannot cure the individual and provide them with single filters as they must
This is mostly because such a move gave schistosomiasis the chance to truly thrive. This is because moving into an agricultural society has led to some groups settling in one location and as a result it led to groups using a specific water source for years if not decades. The consistent use of the same water sources by a settled population leads to increase in exposure to parasites as well as facilizing their life cycle (Perry). His is mostly because by settling and using only a few water sources the group ensures that the parasite would have a population continuously go to the infected source allowing to continue to infect and live, especially during a time where modern medicine was unknown or in location where it is inaccessible. Another reason that sedentary life assisted schistosomiasis is the fact that it gave it a very desirable and efficient life cycle as it had fresh water that was frequently used and occupied by humans allowing to breed and prosper as humans would always use it and return even if infected and continue to do for generations unless they move. Even then should the group move some would be infected and bring the parasite to there next home. Hunters and gathers on the other hand didn’t have to deal with this as much due to the fact that they did not have to relay on a select few sources of water …show more content…
Despite this though there have efforts to combat it, but if the data is anything to go by the battles have not been the most successful as schistosomiasis is currently “infecting more than 200 million people, with death estimates of up to 200,000 per year” and that is continuing to grow (Pimentel). Many of the programs combating this disease are usually for ethical or developmental reason as they wish to bring down mortality or raise children’s test scores, which data has shown that doesn’t really affect it (Bhargava). The main issue though in combating this parasitic disease though is the fact that its habitat is the very thing humans need to survive fresh water, coupled with the fact that we use freshwater to also crops, bath, and in religious ceremonies we can see why it’s difficult to combat schistosomiasis. Even then combating it isn’t as simple as curing it as the parasite can easily re-enter the body after it has been removed from it and generally does due to the fact that most communities are usually in locations were their main water supply is generally outside in open air and used by many people. Religion itself even plays a role as muslims usually have higher infections due to their wudu or cleansing bath they do before prayer, which makes combating the disease much more difficult as they cannot cure the individual and provide them with single filters as they must