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" For decades, those who study the determinants of disease have known that social or structural forces account for most epidemic disease. But truisms such as “poverty is the root cause of tuberculosis” have not led us very far. While we do not yet have a curative prescription for poverty, we do know how to cure TB."

"The debate about whether to focus on proximal versus distal interventions, or similar debates about how best to use scarce resources, is as old as medicine itself. But there is little compelling evidence that we must make such either/or choices: distal and proximal interventions are complementary, not competing"

" By insisting that our services be delivered equitably, even physicians who work on the distal interventions characteristic of clinical medicine have much to contribute to reducing the toll of structural violence"

Most of the claims are based on past examples in history of response to disease outbreaks and the development of new diseases. They looked at how regualtions were developed after each one, what research showed in each case, and how people reacted to the risk or security associated with each.

The government and politicians that released the information do not share their defense of why they cut information out, at the cost of the people and responders.

Vincanne Adams is a professor at UCSF School of Medicine. She has her PhD and experience in anthropology. Taslim Van Hattum is the maternal and child health portfolio director at The Louisiana Public Health Institute. Diana English is a Clinical Assistant Professor and specializes in OB/GYN and gynecologic oncology.