Social and Political Causes for Disease

One of the primary themes conveyed within the novel is the idea that although bacteria, viruses, and parasites are the cause of disease, there are social and political aspects that cause epidemics. Issues such as prostitution and drug use tend to help spread blood born disease, while poor housing, improper medical care, and a lack of access to drugs cause even more issues. In third world countries, the reuse of needles causes issues, as does the lack of sterile working conditions. Political upheaval causes economic issues, resulting in famine and malnutrition, making opportunist diseases even more prevalent. Changes in local ecology, such as the loss of forestation for agriculture, causes a loss of local natural habitat, which can increase all forms of disease. Even modernization causes issues, as the problems of urban life are introduced to native populations. Also from a political standpoint...