Geographical Association - Geography of Disease

Geography of Disease

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Reasoning with Biomedical Evidence:
Understanding Disease Spread and Risk at KS3

In June 2008, an article in the Independent newspaper carried a warning from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) that measles had become endemic in Britain. The article cautioned that 'the number of unvaccinated children was now large enough to sustain the "continuous spread" of the potentially lethal virus in the community'.

But what has measles got to do with geography? As part of this project, Aston comprehensive school developed a scheme of work that focuses on the global spread of measles, developing key geographical skills in the process (view this scheme of work). This, along with the other schemes of work created in the project, will hopefully demonstrate the importance of geography for properly understanding disease.

What are the local-global issues that we and young people need to understand in the early 21st century? In a globalised world the spread of infectious diseases ignores boundaries and potentially affects us all. The education and promotion of healthy citizens who make informed decisions to manage their own well being is an essential first step to reducing the ever increasing rise in infections. Geography helps us to explore the distribution and spread of disease, risk taking behaviours, prejudice and lack of understanding of issues such as appropriate methods of control at local, national and international scales.

Thinking geographically encourages us to explore how we are connected personally and in our communities to wider global issues and examine the responsibilities we and young people have to engage in considered action for change.

Through this project funded by the Wellcome Trust, the GA and Durham University have worked with teachers from Maths and Geography departments to explore ways to contribute to the development of spatially aware, informed, numerate citizens through developing a greater understanding and application of a range of complex higher order skills.

Resources such as lesson plans, activities and presentations are available from the three schools that were involved with the project. A collection of relevent and useful links to aid teaching has also been compiled.

(Updated 26.08.09)