The Possibility of a Disease Free World (Eradication and Elimination)

about 1 year ago (Edited)

For any type of illness or condition, one thing is one common symptom and that is fever but most diseases are caused by microorganisms, so is it possible that we can have a microorganism-free world to have a microorganism disease-free world?

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Microorganisms are found everywhere in our body, we have more microorganisms in our body than our body cells, so we are a carrier of microbes and they have a lot of importance in our body, especially in our intestine. If we were to look at the history of microbes, then it started with Anton Van Leeuwenhoek who built his microscope to view a magnification of 250% to see the lining of cotton but then it was able to see microbes. While he was able to see microorganisms, they have been existing since the earth existed and are the oldest life form. They are fundamental in humans as they help in digestion, produce vitamins, and help in other microbiotic activities and that is why they are referred to as microbiomes and contribute to our well-being.

If we are talking about a disease-causing microorganism-free world, then we might also be losing some normal microbiome. It is possible that our external environment affects the types of microbiomes that we have inside us. When we are in the womb, we do not have microbes but then when we are coming out of our mothers, we encounter a lot of microbes from the birth canal. The secondary contact happens when the child comes in contact with the mother during breastfeeding, kissing the child can also be another way of getting microbes. Although a lot of antibiotics are given to children and this makes them lose a lot of microbial florals as the antibiotics kill them. The use of these antibiotics in infants and children increases the chance of chronic diseases. While we have bad microbes, we also have good microbes, and there are some microbes that do both.

Let me state that if we intend to Eradicate diseases, then we are talking about the complete and/or permanent removal of an infection or disease from the world, ensuring it never happens again such as the eradication of Small-Pox. Elimination on the other hand is the complete stop/cessation of infectious transmission in a particular region, such as the elimination of Cholera in the UK and the elimination of malaria in certain parts of the world. For a disease to spread, if transmission R is 1, then the means of transmission will go from one to another, and then will be means of transmission is stable. If the transmission R is greater than 1, then its spreading would increase at the rate. For eradication to be successful, R has to be lesser than 1.

There is an attempt to eradicate Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis ) which is gotten from drinking dirty water. Its eradication was called for in 1986, 1991, and 1995, with an estimated 3.5 million cases occurring in 20 countries with Africa having 17 countries and Asia with 3 countries. The disease can cripple parasitic ones with the guinea worm showing in the foot, but currently, it is on the verge of eradication with 27 cases reported in 2020. Leprosy is another disease but this time around, a stigmatizing one. Caused by Mycobacterium leprae and in 1991, a decision to eliminate a public health problem with a reduction in prevalence below 1 per 10,000, and the prevalence was reached in the year 2000. One difficult thing with leprosy is correcting the disability it causes.

It is possible to eliminate various diseases in different regions such as Malaria in so many countries in Africa but then the transmission rate has to be around 1, so it can be reduced to 0. For eradication, it would take a longer period to have a disease-free universe, as this would also include areas with a poor network to treat and vaccinate where necessary. A very good technology, and a good social, economic, and educational position needs to be considered. There have been a lot of diseases that have been called for eradication as far back as the 80s but these are yet to be achieved since it is very difficult to carry out this operation. While it has worked with smallpox, and working with Guinea Worms, it would work for other diseases.