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Global Health and Epidemics
HASPI Medical Biology Lab 16
Background/Introduction
Complete for 10 points extra credit – In order to get additional 15 points at the
end, this must be done and done well!!
Group Behavior
Behavioral ecology is the study of how evolution, more specifically natural selection, shapes
an organism’s behavior. The focus of this area of science is on how the behavior increases
survival and reproduction, also known as the adaptive significance of the behavior. One of
the branches of behavioral ecology focuses on group behavior. Individuals are constantly
competing with others for territory, food, mates, and other limited resources. By forming
social groups, species gain an advantage. Organisms as simple as bacteria to complex
organisms like humans display group behavior.
Group Behavior
Example Description
Image
Wolf packs maintain and defend the
territories where they live, hunt, and raise
their young. Non-pack members are run
Defending
off or killed when they enter the wolf pack
Territory
territory.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gray-wolf-adaptations.html
Protection
Group
Foraging
Prairie dogs live in large “towns” that can
be a single acre, or span hundreds of
acres. Within these towns certain
individuals are responsible for watching
for predators, and produce a warning cry
that sends all prairie dogs within earshot to
their burrows.
Lions live in a pride and work together to
take down their prey. The female lions
decide when to hunt, and are capable of
taking down large prey, such as
wildebeests, when they hunt as a group.
http://davewelling.photoshelter.com/image/I0000KcpS6B5T76k
http://www.pinterest.com/d7eymhx/cooperation-symbiosis/
Mating
Bands of wild horses normally have one
dominant stallion that breeds the mares,
and protects the band from danger.
http://www.amazingpicturesplace.com/wild-horse-herd/
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Parental
Care
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After breeding and laying an egg, the
female Emperor penguin passes the egg
to the male, who will protect the egg for
2-3 months until it hatches. Once
hatched, male and female penguins care
for the young together.
http://www.wallpapersak.com/emperor-penguin/
Group Behavior and Epidemics
Group behavior can impact choices and actions in human society as well. Group behavior
has evolved because membership can increase the chances of survival for individuals and
their genetic relatives. Large groups of people acting simultaneously to achieve a goal is
called herd behavior. Consider a large number of people in a stadium that catches on fire.
Small groups of individuals may find quick and safe exits from the stadium, while large groups
of people attempting to escape in the same direction are often trampled, or even killed.
Herd behavior is also known as neighbor copying. The dynamics of group behavior can also
be seen when people join protests, especially when they turn into mobs.
Group behavior is very important to public health. Due to the spread of worldwide travel,
urbanization, and globalization, the spread of infectious disease is more of a risk than it has
ever been in the past. An epidemic occurs when the number of individuals who have
contracted an infectious disease is higher than expected within an area. A pandemic
occurs when this happens on a global scale. The fear of epidemics and pandemics can
have an impact on the behavior toward them. Understanding how individuals change their
behavior in response to an epidemic threat is important when forming public health policies
for infection control.
Group behavior in these
situations can be highly
effective in slowing or
stopping the transmission
of infectious diseases. For
example, through education
and behavioral shifts to safer
sex practices in Africa, the
prevalence of HIV/AIDS
infections have been reduced
in developing countries. The
map to the right illustrates the
reduction in the prevalence of
HIV infection from 2009 (top
map) to 2014 (bottom map).
What causes individuals to
change their behavior during
epidemics? A survey conducted
by NIH in 2009 determined that
individuals were more likely to
change their behavior based on:
 Media-communicated
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risk of the infection
 Individuals’ anxiety levels
regarding possible infection
 Effectiveness of protective
measures against infection
 Size of the household (particularly those with small children)
Global Health
The health of populations on a worldwide scale is
called global health. The field of global health aims
to protect against global health threats regardless
of borders, worldwide health improvement, and
decreasing disparities in health access. In general,
developed countries tend to be healthier than
developing countries. For example, diarrhea is the
2nd leading cause of child death worldwide, due to
poor sanitation in developing countries. The World
Health Organization (WHO) is the dominant authority
on global health. The WHO focuses on improving:
 global access to medicines
 public health in specific populations
 identifying causes and risk factors (epidemiology)
 research and data for policy decisions
 cost-effectiveness for allocating health resources
http://whoiaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Global_Health.jpg
Review Questions – answer questions on a separate sheet of paper
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is behavioral ecology?
What is group behavior?
How does adaptive significance apply to group behavior?
For each of the following group behaviors, provide an example OTHER than what
is included in the Background.
a. Defending territory
b. Protection
c. Group foraging
d. Mating
e. Parental care
5. How does group behavior impact human society?
6. What is herd behavior, and how does it affect people?
7. What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
8. Why are epidemics and pandemics more of a risk now than they were in the
past?
9. How can group behavior impact the spread of infectious diseases?
10. Explain how group behavior has slowed the spread of HIV/AIDS.
11. What is global health?
12. Which organization is primarily responsible for global health? What is the focus of
this organization?
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Epidemics: Past & Present
HASPI Medical Biology Lab 16a
Scenario
Epidemics have had a hand in shaping the development of humans throughout history, and
continue to do so into the present and future. In this activity you will learn more about some
of the major epidemics and pandemics that have impacted humans, and you will be able
to investigate the outbreak and control of current epidemics.
Materials
Computer/Internet
Directions
Part A. Epidemics: Past
Task
Response
Go to the following website and answer questions 4 - 14:
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-worst-epidemics.htm
Small Pox
1
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
1918 Flu
2
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
Malaria
4
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
a.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
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d.
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a.
b.
c.
d.
c.
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Black Death
3
b.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Global Health and Epidemics, HASPI Medical Biology Lab 16
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Tuberculosis
5
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
Cholera
6
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
a.
b.
c.
d.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
Polio
10
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
b.
c.
d.
e.
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a.
b.
c.
d.
d.
a.
Epidemic Typhus
9
c.
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Yellow Fever
8
b.
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
AIDS
7
Date:
b.
c.
d.
e.
a.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the disease?
What are the symptoms?
How did it spread? How was the
spread stopped or slowed?
e. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
b.
c.
d.
e.
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Part B. Epidemics: Present
Go to the following website and answer questions 14 – 16:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/recentincidents.asp
Scroll down the list of “Recent Outbreaks and Incidents.” Look for any recent disease
outbreaks and scan through the article. Find the three most recent outbreaks and answer the
following questions for each.
1.
Outbreak 1: _____________________
11
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the outbreak?
What are the symptoms of the disease?
How did it spread? How was the spread
of this disease stopped or slowed?
Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
2.
3.
4.
5.
Outbreak 2: _____________________
12
1.
2.
3.
4.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the outbreak?
What are the symptoms of the disease?
How did it spread? How was the spread
of this disease stopped or slowed?
5. Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Outbreak 3: _____________________
13
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When and where did it occur?
What caused the outbreak?
What are the symptoms of the disease?
How did it spread? How was the spread
of this disease stopped or slowed?
Approximately how many people were
infected or killed?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Connections & Applications
Your instructor may assign or allow you to choose any of the following activities. As per
NGSS/CCSS, these extensions allow students to explore outside activities recommended by
the standards. Each one (1,2,3) is worth 5 points extra credit
1. RESEARCH: Choose one of the following – tuberculosis, HIV, whooping cough, West
Nile virus, or measles. Research and answer the following questions:
a. What causes the disease, and how is it transmitted?
b. What are the symptoms?
c. Who is at risk for contracting the disease?
d. What is the epidemic status of the disease in the United States? Worldwide?
e. What measures are being taken to reduce the epidemic threat of this disease?
f. Cite your sources!
2. EXAMINE THE FACTS: Read, summarize, and evaluate one of the following scientific
journal studies from the Public Library of Science (PLoS) on epidemics:
a. Predictive Validation of an Influenza Spread Model, 2013
i. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0065459
b. Epidemic Process Over the Commute Network in a Metropolitan Area, 2014
i. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0098518
c. Delaying the International Spread of Pandemic Influenza, 2006
i. http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.p
med.0030212
3. COMPARE AND CONTRAST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS: Health care access and reform is a
hot debate. Group behavior toward health care in a community and/or nation can
greatly impact the health of those that live there. Compare and contrast the health
care systems of the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, and Russia. Which system do you conclude is most effective and why?
Resources & References

Adam, B. Schmidt, W.P., Varadharajan, S., Rajaraman, D. Kumar, R. Greenland, K., Gopalan, B. Aunger, R.,
and Curtis, V. Effect of a behavior-change intervention on handwashing with soap in India (SuperAmma):
a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet Global Health (2): 145-154.

Davis, N.B., Krebs, J.R., and West, S.A. 2012. An Introduction to Behavioral Ecology. 4th edition, John Wiley
& Sons, pp. 254-263.

MHHE. 2014. Chapter 7: Behavior Ecology. www.mhhe.com/raven6e, www.biocourse.com.
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Global Health and Epidemics, HASPI Medical Biology Lab 16