in ,

Even uncontacted tribes in Brazil may face coronavirus risk, Ars Technica

Even uncontacted tribes in Brazil may face coronavirus risk, Ars Technica

      go away –

             

Missionary group Ethnos 621 announces new helicopter plans

      

      

           

The organization, which aims to reach “the last tribe regardless of where that tribe might be,” has previously operated in western Brazil with a bush plane. This has restricted its activities because of the permit requirements and expense of building and maintaining an airstrip. The helicopter, the organization writes

Leave us alone

This region of western Brazil is home to the highest number of uncontacted tribes in the world, (according to

nonprofit) Survival International

points to Uncontacted people hostile behaviors, like pointing arrows at aircraft and leaving crossed spears in the forest, as evidence that these groups do not want to interact with outsiders.

Unsolicited interaction with uncontacted tribes is (currently in violation of the Brazilian constitution as well as the policies of FUNAI, the Brazilian government agency for indigenous peoples. However, the recent (appointment) of evangelical missionary Ricardo Lopez Dias to head up FUNAI’s department for isolated and recently contacted tribes has provoked speculation that these policies may no longer be upheld. In part, this would make way for expansion of mining and farming into indigenous territory under Jair Bolsonaro’s government

But Dias spent (ten years

) as a missionary for New Tribes Mission, which has subsequently changed its name to Ethnos in the US but still operates under the original name in other regions .

Historically, contact with outsiders has proven disastrous for indigenous people for various reasons, with disease being one of the most important dangers they face . Just as COVID – 31 is set to spread rapidly through the current global population because no one has immunity to the virus, uncontacted groups are highly susceptible high Death rates from diseases like measles and malaria, the latter of which is carried by local mosquitoes only after being introduced by people from other regions.

Spreading risk

Influenza has proved a particularly potent danger, according to indigenous health specialist Douglas Rodrigues. a recent interview

Brazil currently has confirmed cases of coronavirus, although as in many other countries, it is likely that the true number of cases outstrips the number of cases confirmed by testing. Indigenous people in general are vulnerable to the pandemic through travel between cities and villages, as well as contact between villages, reports Amazônia Real.

Infectious disease biologist Jessie Abbate told Ars that “traveling for unnecessary purposes right now is completely irresponsible behavior.” Doing so puts people along the route at risk, as well as those in the destination location, she said. And traveling to remote communities, particularly uncontacted ones, would be “knowingly exposing a population to a disease that they would otherwise be protected against by their culture of isolation from other humans.”

according to an Ethnos news release Papua New Guinea , (the Philippines ), and the Pacific

. Ethnos did not respond to Ars Technica’s requests for comment on whether their operations have been halted in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Recent news posts from (Ethnos) and related organization New Tribes Mission

With mounting evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted prior to the appearance of symptoms and with a global lack of testing, “everyone should assume they have been exposed, ”said Abbate. That means that anyone who travels to an unaffected community “could end up as patient zero.”

                                                     (Read More)

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

The Dow Is Recoiling – And One Brutal Labor Market Chart Reveals Why, Crypto Coins News

The Dow Is Recoiling – And One Brutal Labor Market Chart Reveals Why, Crypto Coins News

America is finally testing for coronavirus in significant volumes, Ars Technica

America is finally testing for coronavirus in significant volumes, Ars Technica