Globalization and Infectious Disease

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“The world is a global village”, is a metaphor that was coined by the Canadian scholar Marshall McLuhan to describe the perceived experience of a smaller world resulting from the effects of modern technology, faster communication and improved transportation, despite geographical boundaries (1). The various processes that have produced this phenomenon can be called globalization. There are many definitions of the term globalization; Delbruck 1993 defined globalization as "a process of denationalization of markets, laws and politics, in the sense of interlacing people and individuals for the sake of common good"(2). Fidler 1996 aptly described globalization as a complex process of, “political and economic intercourse between different sovereign states” on the premise that such interdependence will result in states being better off and as such building stability, peace and order in the international scenario(3). Globalization has resulted in a gradual erosion of the traditional distinction of national and international activities through political, social and economic interaction between different countries, leading to a fusion or overlap of domestic and foreign policies(4). However, globalization differs from internationalization, the latter referring to a process where each country attempts to fulfil their national interest by co-operating with other countries in areas where they are incapable of achieving desired outcomes on their own(3) . Its key points are co-operation between states, while preserving sovereignty. Globalization on the other hand entails co-operation and undermines the sovereignty of nations.

Globalization influences almost all spheres of human life. Public health has been affected by this phenomenon, both pos...

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...main.html. Accessed 6/21/2010, 2010.

(37) Health Protection Agency. Centre for Infections. 2010; Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/AboutTheHPA/ContactUs/HealthProtectionAgencyOffices/CentresAndDivisions/CentreForInfections/. Accessed 6/24/2010, 2010.

(38) Health Protection Agency. International Projects. 2010; Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/AboutTheHPA/WhatTheHealthProtectionAgencyDoes/InternationalWork/interInternationalProjects/. Accessed 6/24/2010, 2010.

(39) World Bank. Projects - Haiti: AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTROL AND HUMAN INFLUENZA EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS AND CONTROL. 2010; Available at: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P111667. Accessed 6/27/2010, 2010.

(40) Fauci AS. Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases: The Perpetual Challenge. Academic Medicine 2005;80(12).

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