Proposed publications
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Emerging
Infectious Diseases and the Integrity of Indigenous
Cultures and Regions
Further to the volume on Health and Environment proposed at
the recent Rome Colloquium, Dr Richard Lee has posted this
abstract for discussion. The full text and accompanying
figures are available for download (pdf) in the margin.
Abstract
Indigenous people living in
geographically remote places have been a favorite “target”
for anthropologists, epidemiologists, and explorers. The
physical and spiritual environment and the biologic
characteristics of isolated populations are of interest to
scholars pursuing the origin and the limits of human
activities. Infectious disease has been a particularly
popular subject of field research and speculation. The
examples of epidemic catastrophes among island people and
following the European entrance into the Americas have
established a pessimistic and hostile attitude to the
intrusion of urban, cosmopolitan visitors among remote
villagers. However, remote does not automatically mean
isolation! This is especially true for Ladakh. The history
of travel and trade through Ladakh destroys the notion that
the region is the equivalent of a remote island. The
migratory pattern of birds adds to the transport of animal
and human pathogens through the region. Ladakh has
protected and maintained its traditional culture for more
than a millennium despite the waxing and waning of plagues
and invaders. Its stability is perhaps because it is remote
enough to be left alone most of the time but accessible
enough for infectious pathogens to circulate and maintain
immunocompetence throughout the population.
Please forward any correspondence To:
Richard V. Lee, M.D.
7664 East Quaker Road
Orchard Park, NY 14127
716-667-3304 phone/fax
dmdrvl@buffalo.edu