User:Mdlindemulder/sandbox

Countries with poor healthcare have shown slower economic growth in the twentieth century. The burden of disease is greater in tropical areas and exacerbates rates of poverty. It is estimated that malaria alone reduces the rate of economic growth by 1.3 percent each year in sub-Saharan Africa.

Workforce absenteeism and premature death as a result of infectious disease slow development. In Malawi between 1990 and 2000, levels of attrition saw an increase of almost six times with an average attrition rate of 2.3%. Death was the largest reason for this attrition. Mortality over this period increased ten times, mostly due to HIV. As professional staff with greater experience die, this can lead to an organizational loss of productivity which can impact the rate of development and cause a brain drain in both political and commercial institutions.

Disease has a significant impact on the stability of underdeveloped nation states and the stability of relationships with the international community. As development occurs, it increases the incidence of disease because infrastructure upgrades connect disparate areas allowing for easier transmission of disease. The spread of communicable diseases like HIV and tuberculosis have been significantly fueled by these infrastructure upgrades. With the high prevalence of these diseases comes the increased likelihood that the viruses will mutate to forms even easier to acquire. Other diseases, such as malaria, pose an even greater risk because of the ease of transmission especially in densely populated areas. As a nation develops, the very diseases that impede that development are further spread.