Section Four, "Infectious Diseases," raises many basic public health issues. Some of these are also covered in the section "Disease," pp. 97-99 in the Handbook. Students who appreciate the difference between bacterial and viral infections will understand why they cannot go to the doctor for antibiotics when they have the flu. It is important to know that basic hygiene can stop the spread of many infectious diseases. Public health officials say that about half the colds young children get can be prevented by regular, careful hand washing. To understand how public water supplies and sewers protect us from diseases such as cholera and dysentery, you may wish to follow the aftermath of a natural disaster, such as a flood or an earthquake, in the news if the opportunity presents itself. Where hygiene is lax, outbreaks of these diseases are inevitable. However, students should also know that some serious infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS, are not spread through casual contact, and there is no reason to be afraid of people who have them.

A discussion of the public health vaccination program is also relevant to this section. Students may be interested to know that the very first vaccinations in North America were given in Newfoundland (see the year 1788 in the section "Early Exploration and Settlement," in book 1 Timelines of Newfoundland and Labrador.)

Section Five is emotionally charged. It was included to add a human face to the historical data. Students who have experienced a loss may react strongly to this section. If this is likely, group reading may not be appropriate. One of the problems with using primary sources such as these is the vocabulary. You may wish to have students plan language "translations" of one or both of these pieces, either in groups or alone depending on their levels and abilities.

Section Six takes us up to the present. Students should be encouraged to discuss which aspects of our social safety net protect us from the problems experienced in the past. This section relates to the discussion under "Government Programs and Services" in the Integrated Unit GOVERNMENT AND THE LAW, pp.43-44 in the Instructor's Handbook. You may wish to look at The United Nations "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" when discussing this section.