Which of the following explain why infectious diseases were less common among hunter gatherers?
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Abstract Throughout history, forests dwellers have adapted to permanent changes of forest ecosystems that, in essence, are dynamic. Accordingly, they have long served as models of how humans lived when their lifestyles and genetic endowment were complementary. What is now commonly described as the "paleodiet" tends to be put forward as a benchmark for present-day efforts to promote health and prevent nutritional diseases, even in industrialized countries. Although forest ecosystems provide food and medicines to forest dwellers, over the last half-century these ecosystems have undergone unprecedented pressure to make way for economic growth and industrialization, often at the cost of ecological functions that may affect human health, both in short term (i.e. increase in infectious diseases) and long term (incidence of global change). As radical alterations occur such as deforestation, modification of resource availability, and the penetration of cash economies, forest dwellers encounter increasing difficulties in accommodating their socioeconomic, cultural, and political systems, thus impeding their ecological success. Diets and diseases are sensitive indicators of the ecological and cultural costs that former hunter-gatherers currently pay to achieve their share of modernity. This paper exposes the nutritional and epidemiological consequences of the maladaptation of former hunter-gatherers in relation to their recent sedentarization. It is primarily based on case studies carried out among the Baka and Kola Pygmies of Cameroon, and the Tubu Punan of Borneo. À travers leur histoire, les peuples forestiers ont toujours su s'adapter aux changements permanents des écosystèmes forestiers qui, par essence, sont dynamiques. C'est la raison pour laquelle ils ont longtemps servi de modèle pour analyser la vie des humains lorsque leur mode de subsistance et leur profil génétique étaient intimement liés. Ce que l'on qualifie communément de «paléorégime» tend à constituer l'argument clé des discours en vogue jusque dans nos sociétés industrialisées, qui veulent promouvoir une vie saine et exempte des troubles nutritionnels. Depuis un demi siècle, les écosystèmes forestiers qui fournissent incontestablement toutes sortes de nourritures et de médicaments aux peuples forestiers, sont l'objet de pressions sans précédent; elles visent certes à favoriser le développement économique et l'industrialisation, mais se font au détriment des fonctions écologiques. La dégradation de ces fonctions affecte la santé humaine, tant à court terme (p. ex. accroissement des maladies infectieuses) qu'à long terme (p. ex. incidence du changement global). Face à ces altérations radicales — déforestation, modification de la disponibilité des ressources, pénétration de l'économie de marché — les peuples forestiers peinent à ajuster leurs systèmes socioéconomique, culturel et politique, compromettant alors leur succès écologique. Le régime alimentaire et la santé sont des indicateurs sensibles du prix écologique et culturel que les derniers chasseurs-cueilleurs doivent aujourd'hui payer pour avoir accès à la modernité. Cet article expose les conséquences nutritionnelles et épidémiologiques de la maladaptation de ces chasseurs-cueilleurs consécutive à leur sédentarisation récente. Il repose principalement sur des études de cas réalisées chez les Pygmées Baka et Kola du Cameroun, et chez les Punan Tubu de Bornéo. A través de la historia, los pobladores del bosque se han adaptado a los cambios permanentes de unos ecosistemas forestales que, en esencia, son dinámicos. De acuerdo con ello, y durante mucho tiempo, han servido de modelos de como vivía el ser humano cuando sus estilos de vida y las facultades genéticas que poseía eran complementarios. Lo que ahora se describe comúnmente como «paleodieta» tiende a ser propuesta como una cota de referencia en los esfuerzos actuales por fomentar la salud y prevenir las enfermedades nutricionales, incluso en países industrializados. Aunque los ecosistemas forestales proporcionan alimento y medicinas a los pobladores del bosque, estos ecosistemas han experimentado una presión sin precedentes durante el último medio siglo en pro del crecimiento económico y la industrialización, a menudo a expensas de aquellas funciones ecológicas que podrían afectar a la salud humana, tanto a corto (es decir, aumento de las enfermedades infecciosas) como a largo plazo (efecto del cambio global). A medida que suceden cambios radicales como la deforestación, diferencias en la disponibilidad de recursos, y la penetración de economías monetarias, los pobladores del bosque encuentran cada vez más dificultades para adaptar sus sistemas socioeconómicos, culturales y políticos, viendo entorpecida por ello su prosperidad ecológica. La dieta y las enfermedades son indicadores sensibles de los costos ecológicos y culturales que tienen que pagar en la actualidad los cazadores-recolectores de antaño para poder encontrar su espacio en la vida moderna. Este artículo presenta las consecuencias nutricionales y epidemiológicas de la maladaptación de quienes fueron cazadores-recolectores en relación a su sedentarización reciente. Está basado principalmente en estudios de caso realizados entre los pigmeos Baka y Kola de Camerún y los Tubu Punan de Borneo. Show Journal Information The International Forestry Review is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of forest policy and science, with an emphasis on issues of transnational significance. It is published four times per year, in March, June, September and December. Special Issues are a regular feature and attract a wide audience. Publisher Information Sustainable forest management plays a central role in our future, which in turn requires the training and development of forestry professionals. That's where the CFA comes in. We work in all corners of the Commonwealth and beyond to promote the wise management of trees and forests, and we do this in five main ways. First, we publish world-class science via our peer-reviewed forestry journal, the International Forestry Review, in which the most up-to-date research results are published. Second, we facilitate networking of professional members and organisations and exchange of knowledge via our quarterly newsletter, website, Facebook page andTwitter feed. Third, we encourage professional excellence and promote career development using a range of awards, such as the Queen’s Award for Forestry, the Young Forester Award and the Young Scientist Research Award. Fourth, we carry out a range of specific projects in the field that have been identified by our membership. And fifth, we promote capacity building by helping to organise training courses, workshops, and conferences. Rights & Usage This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. What are the most common diseases or illnesses of hunting gathering societies?Increased exposure to transmissible diseases (e.g. smallpox, measles, mumps, cholera, rubella, diphtheria and influenza) is associated with dense concentrations of human settlements.
Why can't epidemics take hold in hunterHunter-gatherer populations were much less dense than later agriculturalists. The variety of their food supply protected them from crop failures and their sparseness reduced the spread of infectious diseases.
Why did infectious disease become more common with the agricultural revolution?The Agricultural Revolution
People began living in larger groups and staying in the same place, so there was more opportunity for transmission of diseases.
Why did disease spread so quickly in Neolithic villages?The living conditions in many agricultural communities were crowded compared with Mesolithic times; thus, pathogens were able to spread easily, affecting entire groups and ultimately reaching endemic levels.
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