Aids Is It a Modern Plague - 943 Words

AIDS: Is it a Modern Plague? In some parts of the world there are still wars being fought and dictators in power. There are societies which consider themselves at the peak of evolution and progress. They are able to create state of the art automobiles, luxurious homes, efficient and organized industries, complex computerized machinery and atomic weapons. Many societies are governed by a democratic system which herald a belief in freedom. All societies, regardless of their political and economic makeup, are also ruled by a special class of dictators; these dictators are unseen to the naked eye, and are invincible. These invisible tyrants are microorganisms. Underdeveloped countries, technologically advanced countries, and†¦show more content†¦In western Africa, AIDS is also caused by HIV-2, a strain of HIV closely related to HIV-1. Other distantly related strains of HIV-1 have been identified in various areas of the world. Although some of these strains cannot be detected using the current blood-screening methods, there is little risk of spread to North America because of the geographic isolation of these viruses. Even in the case of HIV-2, spread outside Africa is rare. Only 18 cases of HIV-2 have been documented in the United States, and transmission in these cases was linked directly to western Africa. Currently, this invisible tyrant is so dominant that our basic values of Make Love not War have been twisted into an anxious cry of Make Love and Die. This disease is causing a great deal of pain and sorrow. We need to reason and evaluate the truth of the matter and to adapt to a way of life in order to minimize further casualties. If we declare war on HIV, educate in preventing the spread of this disease, and avoid stigmatizing and discriminating based on misinformation, we are well on our way to at least neutralizing HIV. Moral awareness should also be increased in an effort to have better use of the education we possess. This includes those in the medical profession. At this juncture, the chance to find a cure for retroviruses, especially the HIV virus, are less likely than it is for the virus to evolve into a non-deadly form. Perhaps then itShow MoreRelatedSusan Sontag, Illness As Metaphor, And AIDS And Its Metaphor1128 Words   |  5 Pagesepidemics to date, AIDS, a real modern-day plague. However, when analyzing the terminology and metaphors discussed during the AIDS epidemic, many academic scholars such as Susan Sontag view the conversation around AIDS as a plague as counterproductive. This view is clear when reading Sontag’s essay, Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphor, where a reader can interpret that nations failings while handling the epidemic was caused by a negative perception of the word plague. Although, Sontag isRead MoreThe Black Death Essay1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Black Death or â€Å"plague† that killed thousands in the fourteenth century may have evolved into a more modern version of itself. The â€Å"plague† is known as the â€Å"Yersinia pestis† bacteria, which is a rare zoonotic disease. These diseases are spread from animal to human (Newquist 239, Adamloakun M.D. 718). The bacterium lives in rodents such as rats and is carried by fleas (Newquist 238). When the fleas bite humans, the bacterium spreads. There are three types of the plague, which include the bubonicRead MoreEssay Yersinia pestis - Bacteria Virulence and Symptoms1438 Words   |  6 Pagesforms of the plague: Bubonic, Pneumonic and Septicemic. Each form of the plague can develop into a case of fatality as the host experiences painful symptoms, including the large, inflamed bubo. One of the most well known pandemics known to mankind is the plague, also known as the Black Death, which plundered areas from Asia to Western Europe and carried on to the Americas. Though the infection is not the most prevalent compared to many of the worlds other bacterial agents, the plague is one of theRead MoreThe Effect on Clergy and the Catholic Church during the Black Death857 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom 1347-1351. This plague killed entire families at a time and destroyed at least 1,000 villages. Greatly contributing to the Crisis of the Fourteenth Century, the Black Death had many effects beyond its immediate symptoms. Not only did the Black Death have a devastating toll on human life, but it also played a key role in shaping the Catholic Church’s life in the following years. The Black Death consisted mainly of one disease, the bubonic plague, but pneumonic plague was also present duringRead MoreThe Black Death Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pagesfalling down. The nur sery rhyme refers to the Black Death, one of the worst plagues of all time (Schladweller). Known as infectious diseases that spread quickly and kill countless people, plagues have had a tremendous affect on people around the world since the beginning of time. The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, is a contagious bacterial infection that has killed millions of people. With the bubonic plague brutally killing one fourth of Europe in the 14th century and devastating ChinaRead MoreThe Black Death : A Widespread Disease1148 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Black Death began, with the development of modern historiography. Working to disclose the true makeup of the Black Death started during 1894 in Hong Kong. Leading bacteriologists sent to Hong Kong by both the Japanese and French governments known as S.Kitasato and A.Yersin to aid the research, achieving almost instant success. Within a few weeks managing to identify the same new type of bacterium that’s present in the bloo d and tissues from plague patients, further succeeding in isolating samplesRead MorePoverty And Its Effects On African Nation1353 Words   |  6 Pagesabout have not enough money to meet basic needs of living which includes food, clothing, and shelter. Being that Africa has a lack of the materials for a humans needs to have a role in society. Although over about 500 billion dollars is sent directly aid the African nation the money is being misused. A large percentage of the money that is sent is used to invest in weapons. This is caused by totalitarian regimes. Having large debts result in little to no money being used for social serviceRead MoreThe Death Of The Plague1532 Words   |  7 Pages Fourteenth century western Europe— already plagued by overpopulation, economic depression, famine, and malnutrition, plummeted into an unprecedented scope of devastation as the bubonic plague annihilated two-fifths of its population. Coined the Black Death in reference to its symptomatic bodily discoloration, the pandemic’s ability to wipe out such a tremendous population is indicative of susceptibility before tragedy even struck. From 1000 to 1300, Europe’s population problematically doubled-Read MoreEssay about Life and Death in The Middle Ages1456 Words   |  6 Pagesfood also plays an important role in society functions. From Christmas, Easter, and thanksgiving food is an important part of celebrations. Food and celebration has always brought generations of people together to enjoy each other’s company . In our modern society, in particular the United States, we have an abundance of food at our disposal. However, in society today as well as in previous centuries there is a huge gap between wealth and poverty. Sadly, some people in the developed and developingRead MoreReform by Destruction: The Black Death Essay914 Words   |  4 Pages The lords milked this opportunity as the peasants and vassals could not create their own roadways or supplies. The vassals and peasants had no true freedom from their lords, and no sufficient payment for their servitude (â€Å"Feudalism†). After the plague, the peasants who were once loyal and dependable now demanded higher payments of cash (Routt). Without compensation, they refused to work any longer. This caused the nobility to finally realize that with such a high demand for these workers, they