cultural

• Ancient Chinese doctors identified strategies that help treat and control disease eg. using a particular herbal formula for a particular disease, they understood there were different modes of transmission eg. ‘warm’ diseases spread from person to person within a household. Combined with better hygiene practices, these strategies helped control the spread of disease.
• In West Africa, cultural beliefs hampered attempts to prevent and control the spread of disease. Taking into consideration these cultural practicies, strategies were put in place with the help of community leaders and clergy that were successful in reducing the spread of the Ebola virus. Burial practices had to be changed to include the use of protective clothing to prevent contact with contaminated body fluids.