Disease Columbian Exchange

european exploration of tropical areas aided new world discovery of quinine, first effective treatment malaria. europeans suffered disease, indigenous populations had developed @ least partial resistance it. in africa, resistance malaria has been associated other genetic changes among sub-saharan africans , descendants, can cause sickle-cell disease.

before regular communication had been established between 2 hemispheres, varieties of domesticated animals , infectious diseases jumped humans, such smallpox, substantially more numerous in old world in new due more extensive long-distance trade networks. many had migrated west across eurasia animals or people, or brought traders asia, diseases of 2 continents suffered occupants. while europeans , asians affected eurasian diseases, endemic status in continents on centuries resulted in many people gaining acquired immunity.

by contrast, old world diseases had devastating effect when introduced native american populations via european carriers, people in americas had no natural immunity new diseases. measles caused many deaths. smallpox epidemics believed have caused largest death tolls among native americans, surpassing wars , far exceeding comparative loss of life in europe due black death. estimated upwards of 80–95 percent of native american population died in these epidemics within first 100–150 years following 1492. many regions in americas lost 100%. beginning of demographic collapse on north american continent has typically been attributed spread of well-documented smallpox epidemic hispaniola in december 1518. @ point in time, approximately 10,000 indigenous people still alive in hispaniola.

similarly, yellow fever thought have been brought americas africa via atlantic slave trade. because endemic in africa, many people there had acquired immunity. europeans suffered higher rates of death did african-descended persons when exposed yellow fever in africa , americas, numerous epidemics swept colonies beginning in 17th century , continuing late 19th century. disease caused widespread fatalities in caribbean during heyday of slave-based sugar plantation. replacement of native forests sugar plantations , factories facilitated spread in tropical area reducing number of potential natural predators. yet, means of transmission unknown until 1881, when carlos finlay suggested disease transmitted through mosquitoes, known female mosquitoes of species aedes aegypti.

the history of syphilis has been well-studied, exact origin of disease unknown , remains subject of debate. there 2 primary hypotheses: 1 proposes syphilis carried europe americas crew of christopher columbus in 1490s, while other proposes syphilis existed in europe went unrecognized. these referred columbian , pre-columbian hypotheses. first written descriptions of disease in old world came in 1493. first large outbreak of syphilis in europe occurred in 1494/1495 in naples, italy, among army of charles viii, during invasion of naples.