Dr. Matiur Rahman & Shishir Reza :
‘Social Disease’ term was first used in 1871 to indicate the venereal disease. Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines ‘Social Disease’ as a venereal disease. For example ‘a contagious disease (such as gonorrhea or syphilis) that is typically acquired in sexual intercourse’. It also defines it as a disease (such as tuberculosis) whose incidence is directly related to social and economic factors. David S. Barnes wrote a book title “The Making of a Social Disease: Tuberculosis in Nineteenth-Century France”.
According to the Oxford English language online dictionary ‘Social Disease’ is “a social phenomenon viewed as an evil or inconvenience”. The other definition is “a sexually transmitted disease”.
From the above definitions it is clear that ‘social disease’ is linked to human being and other substance. Among other factors the venereal disease or sexually transmitted disease is developed through a virus name HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases are communicable diseases. Tuberculosis is also a communicable disease. A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a variety of ways that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by an insect.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed among others HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and viral hepatitis as communicable diseases. In the United States, the California Department of Public Health requested to local health departments to report some 80 communicable diseases to as part of the disease surveillance and investigation efforts. Some of the diseases are 2019-nCoV, Ebola, Enterovirus D68, Flu, Hantavirus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Zika, etc. Thus, the Corona Virus Disease -19 (Covid-19) is also a communicable disease.
As the Oxford English language dictionary mentions ‘Social Disease’ as “a social phenomenon viewed as an evil or inconvenience” so already it has proved that the Covid-19 is an evil and inconvenience phenomenon in the present day world. It is evident that the world is now facing a horrific social phenomenon and hassle in terms of social, economic and psychological trauma due to the Covid-19.
A number of studies revealed that from the beginning of Covid-19 in 2020, a disastrous change happened in socio-economic structure in most of the countries across the world. The number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 have increased dramatically. The effects of Covid-19 pandemic are not limited to health only, but also on the social and economic aspects. Moreover, billions of people are suffering from mental health like depression, anxiety, panic, and traumatic stress due to Covid-19.
In addition, pandemic-related limitations such as social distancing, isolation, home quarantine, etc. is impacting on economic sustainability and well-being, which are increasing psychological mediators, such as sadness, worry, fear, anger, annoyance, frustration, guilt, helplessness, loneliness, and nervousness.
The studies explored that these intermediaries are also distinctive features of psychological suffering that individuals can experience during and after pandemics. Without early economic interventions, such mental health issues can facilitate suicidal behaviors among some individuals, because economic recession, unemployment, and poverty are strongly associated with severe psychological comorbidities such as suicidal behaviors.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Following the definition we can also see that Covid-19 has affected billions of people in the world in terms of their social, economic and psychological order.
Based on the above discussion, in conclusion we can say that the medical scientists, virologists, medical sociologist, public health expert and other concerned experts could perhaps provide their valuable opinion for our better understanding that whether the Covid-19 is a ‘Social Disease’ or not.
(Dr. Matiur Rahman is Research Consultant, Human Development Research Centre and Shishir Reza is Associate Member, Bangladesh Economic Association).
