Guns, Germs and Steel (1997) by Jared Diamond points to the effect of contagious diseases when populations make first contact.
If one of them (the attackers) has developed resistance to the bacteria or viruses they carry and the others (attacked) have not, the nett result may be devastating.
Like the Aztec people have experienced when Cortez invaded South America.
How do you create these diseases? In environments where the conditions are optimal for fast evolution. Like in densely packed animal farms where antibiotics are used widely to prevent the animals form getting a disease. The evolutionary pressure on the bacteria creates strong strains which are resistant to the antibiotics. If ever one of these strains turns out to be deadly for humans we will be in deep trouble because there will be no antibiotics left that are effective.
Fortunately the Mexican Flu does not seem to have a serious effect on humans but it is a wake-up call.
Another environment for breeding superbugs are aquatic waste treatment plants,
as reported recently.
[The researchers] found the so-called superbugs—bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics—up to 100 yards downstream from the discharge point into the Huron River. Xi stresses that while the finding may be disturbing, it is important to understand that much work is still needed to assess what risk, if any, the presence of superbugs in aquatic environments poses to humans.
Xi and colleagues found that while the total number of bacteria left in the final discharge effluent declined dramatically after treatment, the remaining bacteria was significantly more likely to resist multiple antibiotics than bacteria in water samples upstream. Some strains resisted as many as seven of eight antibiotics tested. The bacteria in samples taken 100 yards downstream also were more likely to resist multiple drugs than bacteria upstream
Lets hope that the predictions of Mr. Diamond that we will have no option but to develop resistance to new diseases the hard way (i.e. like the Spanish Flu in the early 1900′s) will not come true.
About Herman
Herman Wagter is one of the founders and co-editor of Dadamotive. His work as interim manager and consultant (Citynet Amsterdam/Fiber-to-the-Home, Platform Sustainable Mobility) has involved him directly in the impact of hyperconnectivity and sustainability on society. As an independent agent and "mobile warrior" he has experienced the pro's and con's of how organizations and projects can be structured, and what the effects on the final result can be. In his opinion we are entering an era of profound change, driven by these fundamental forces. Following the trends, discovering the fun and debunking the half-truths is a passion he likes to share with others.
