Can We Build Better Health?

After an earthquake, we often hear the expression, "Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do." When it comes to beating infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, the focus has historically been placed on developing better drugs and perhaps one day finding a vaccine. But for people at risk of catching infectious diseases, what if homes built with disease prevention in mind were an equally valid solution?

Currently 1 billion people around the world live in city slums, and according to the WHO this figure is projected to double over the next 25 years. Those living in conditions of urban deprivation are at far greater risk of opportunistic illness, particularly if their immune systems are already weakened by HIV/AIDS. We know that poor heating and ventilation cause mold and fungus, allowing bacteria to thrive, all of which compromise the respiratory system. Yet there is a solution: Improve ventilation and reduce indoor humidity and you significantly reduce the risk of an HIV-positive individual contracting tuberculosis...