Publicação
Diamonds and viruses
| Resumo: | In 1988, the remote mining town of Dundo, in Lunda-Norte, Angola, displayed an anomalously high HIV-1 prevalence of 14.2%, despite the absence of recognised epidemic drivers. Archival and epidemiological evidence suggests that colonial medical interventions, rather than sexual transmission alone, were central to the early amplification of the virus. Under the Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (Diamang), a vast corporate health system promoted extensive use of injections and blood transfusions, relying on reusable equipment and limited sterilization. Quantitative data on transfusion ratios and injection frequencies, combined with evidence of rising tuberculosis, anaemia, and vitamin deficiencies, indicate conditions conducive to iatrogenic spread. By integrating epidemiological, virological, and socio-historical perspectives, the study develops a biosocial framework to reinterpret early HIV transmission dynamics. The findings challenge prevailing “urban-centric” explanations of epidemic emergence and highlight how colonial infrastructures, labour regimes, and biomedical technologies inadvertently created new pathways for viral circulation. Understanding these histories broadens current debates on the socio-political roots of epidemics and the long-term legacies of colonial medicine in shaping global health vulnerabilities. |
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| Autores principais: | Varanda, Jorge |
| Outros Autores: | Abecasis, Ana |
| Assunto: | Biomedical technology Early transmission Historical epidemiology HIV-1 Industrial mining Social history Health(social science) History and Philosophy of Science SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | In 1988, the remote mining town of Dundo, in Lunda-Norte, Angola, displayed an anomalously high HIV-1 prevalence of 14.2%, despite the absence of recognised epidemic drivers. Archival and epidemiological evidence suggests that colonial medical interventions, rather than sexual transmission alone, were central to the early amplification of the virus. Under the Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (Diamang), a vast corporate health system promoted extensive use of injections and blood transfusions, relying on reusable equipment and limited sterilization. Quantitative data on transfusion ratios and injection frequencies, combined with evidence of rising tuberculosis, anaemia, and vitamin deficiencies, indicate conditions conducive to iatrogenic spread. By integrating epidemiological, virological, and socio-historical perspectives, the study develops a biosocial framework to reinterpret early HIV transmission dynamics. The findings challenge prevailing “urban-centric” explanations of epidemic emergence and highlight how colonial infrastructures, labour regimes, and biomedical technologies inadvertently created new pathways for viral circulation. Understanding these histories broadens current debates on the socio-political roots of epidemics and the long-term legacies of colonial medicine in shaping global health vulnerabilities. |
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