Emergence and Impact of Pathogens on Indigenous Populations

What are emerging pathogens?

Diseases not previously seen in humans.

What are two reasons why a disease may be considered an emerging pathogen?

It may have only affected a particular population or it may have recently been recognized as being caused by pathogens.

Re-emerging Pathogens

Diseases that declined but are resurging.

Infectious Diseases

Diseases caused by pathogens harming hosts.

Contagious Diseases

Infectious diseases spread between people.

Virulence

Severity of disease caused by a pathogen.

Epidemic

an outbreak that happens in a certain area or country

Pandemic

an outbreak that happens worldwide and more widespread

Endemic Diseases

Diseases consistently present in a population.

Zoonosis

Pathogen transferred from animals to humans.

Colonisation Impact

European diseases devastated Indigenous populations.

Lack of Immunity

Indigenous populations had no defenses against new diseases.

Disease Outbreak

Sudden increase in disease occurrence.

Factors of Disease Emergence

Evolution, travel, population growth, technology, exposure to animals, insufficient vaccination

Globalisation

Increased interconnectedness affecting disease spread.

Increased Animal Exposure

Higher contact with animals raises disease risk.

Insufficient Vaccination

Low immunization rates contribute to disease resurgence.

Indigenous Knowledge

Traditional practices disrupted by colonisation.

Health Status Decline among indigenous population

Colonisation led to worsened health for Indigenous peoples.

Population Density

Crowding increases infection risk.

Major European Diseases

Smallpox, syphilis, tuberculosis, influenza, measles.

Indigenous Victorian Epidemics

60% population decline in 50 years post-contact.

Childhood Disease Exposure

Early exposure leads to milder disease in Europeans.

Treatment Knowledge Gap

Indigenous peoples lacked knowledge of new diseases.

Cultural Disruption

Colonisation altered Indigenous relationships with land.