Urban Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Urban Health - Essay Example It is tabulated that about two-thirds of Europeans lives in towns and cities (WHO, 2010, p. 1). It is estimated that, by 2050, 70% of the people will migrate and live in cities. Urban health is known to depend on factors such as governance, characteristics of the population, food security, social and economic developments (Which, 2010, p. 2). This paper deals with TB as an urban health hazard in Newham, London boroughs. We will discuss how determinants of health contribute to TB infection. Moreover, the infection and transmission mechanisms of the diseases will be discussed under various sections of urban life. Finally, strategies and recommendations in control of the disease will be highlighted. According to Centre for Disease Control, TB is an airborne disease that is caused by bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CDC, 2013, p. 2). The disease was declared a global disaster in 1993 with a campaign plan against it being scheduled in 2006 to save about 14 million victims by the year 2015 (WHO. 2011, p. 23).The pathogen specifically attacks the lungs, but other parts such as spine, kidney and brain are attacked. Extra pulmonary TB occurs outside the lungs. On the other hand, pulmonary TB occurs in the lung. However, the two types can co-exist. Improper treatment of the disease is fatal and may lead to death. Its spread through the air makes it transmittable through coughs, sneeze and other respiratory droplets. It is recorded that in every ten case of TB, half the number that is left untreated leads to 50% deaths (WHO, 2011, p. 3). A third of the whole world’s population is assumed to be affected by M. tuberculosis. Approximations of 1% of new infections are known to occur each year (WHO, 2002, p. 4). In 2007, 13.7million cases of active chronic infections were reported globally. However, in 2010, the number reduced to 8.8 million cases with an approximation of about 1.5 million global deaths. Most of the cases