Referring to the map, describe the spread (diffusion) of this disease between 2005 and 2009.

Suggest three possible reasons why the disease spread to some countries and not others.

Referring to named areas, examine the reasons why their populations may experience food deficiency.

Award [1 mark] for each of the following:

• starts in a single place
• starts in Central Africa/East Africa
• moves in waves, or a sequence
• first wave ends in two places, second wave in three places, etc
• disease jumps/leapfrogs over many unaffected places
• spreads from low to high income places
• shows a pattern of diffusion by relocation/expansion/recognizes types of diffusion
• uses map evidence to identify at least three affected places (eg, Australia, USA, France/Europe).

Possibilities include movement of tourists/travellers; location of transport links such as regular flights; transmission to relatives living in another country; effective prevention campaigns in some countries (hence it did not spread there). Accept comments about commonality of climate provided they are related to countries or regions of broadly similar climate (eg, from Madagascar to Bahamas). Also accept: preventative measures, vaccinations, border controls, migration, transport, trade.

Award [1 mark] for each reason, with a further [1 mark] for development or exemplification, which should be related to country–country spread. For each reason, award only [1 mark] if reference is only made to spread within a country.

For example: disease only spreads to some countries with very regular flights [1 mark] eg, Australia and France, as these are rich countries where people fly frequently [1 mark]. Or, the disease spreads to countries where many citizens have moved abroad [1 mark] as economic migrants may return home at intervals [1 mark].

Credit may be given for reference to a disease other than the one shown on the map.

A clear understanding of food deficiency is expected in stronger responses. In a broad sense, food deficiency refers to an overall lack of available food. This food deficiency may result from: physical factors such as climate, droughts, soil degradation; human factors such as overcrowding; economic factors such as insufficient income to purchase; demographic factors such as rapidly rising population; political factors such as reluctance or inability to trade in world markets.

Food deficiency may also be used to describe situations where the dietary needs of (some) people for a healthy life are not met, despite a sufficient quantity of food being available (eg, lack of vitamins in the diet). However, it is not necessary to include this aspect to be awarded full marks.

At band D, at least two reasons should be described and related to food deficiency. Responses that do not refer to a specific area (whatever the scale) may be credited as high as band D.

At band E there should be either more than two reasons examined/discussed, in more detail, with example(s) (eg rapid population growth in LEDCs and climate problems such as drought) or an examination that shows the reasons are complex/interrelated/do not apply to all parts of the population.

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be awarded according to the markbands.

This question was quite well answered, although few gained the full four marks. Weaker candidates merely listed places.

This was quite well answered, with understanding of the importance of movement of tourists or migrants, of transport links, and effective prevention campaigns. There was often a focus on why a disease did not spread within a specific country when the disease arrived. The reasons given tended to be repetitive and/or overlapping. Development of the reasons was missing. There was also an overwhelming idea that birds, insects, animals and food transported the disease, rather than focusing on the movement of people. Some candidates discussed spread within countries, rather than between countries.

This question elicited some good responses with detailed case studies, such as Ethiopia, and an understanding of the causes of food deficiency and the idea of the interrelationships between factors. Stronger responses were able to link deficiency with physical, human, demographic and political factors. A few briefly mentioned causes and then spent the majority of the answer discussing solutions (some credit was given for this). There were an alarmingly large number who used very out-of-date case studies, such as the Irish potato famine.