The origins of disease

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Summary

Filmed in the U.S., Hungary, India and Australia, this episode investigates through various case studies how epidemics break out. A virus alone does not make an epidemic. Many factors working toget...

Filmed in the U.S., Hungary, India and Australia, this episode investigates through various case studies how epidemics break out. A virus alone does not make an epidemic. Many factors working together cause a disease to spread from its isolated origins. On the Baltimore docks, for example, rats are carrying a disease called Korean hemorrhagic fever. The disease, with its origins in 9th century China, re-emerged during the Korean War when burning brush caused rats to migrate to the port of Seoul. Now the rats have surfaced in Baltimore, bringing with them the risk of infection. This program also covers environmental ailments such as Karpal Tunnel Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and heart disease.

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