Towards understanding the health vulnerability of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation in the Amazon rainforest: Experiences from the Kugapakori Nahua Reserve, Peru

The remote headwater areas of the Amazon rainforest are home to many “isolated peoples�, indigenous groups who prefer not to encounter and establish relationships with outsiders. These people have not been exposed to many everyday, infectious, “Old World� diseases and are therefore particularly susceptible to them, with extremely high morbidity and mortality rates. Recent Peruvian governments have encouraged the large scale exploitation of timber, gas and petrol in the Amazon. These economic interests have greatly increased pressure on previously remote areas, many of which are home to indigenous peoples who have chosen to avoid interactions with outsiders. The Nahua and Nanti established direct relations with outsiders in the last 20 years and experienced major bereavement, disruption and changes in health status as a consequence. The description of some of these epidemics highlights their vulnerability to these diseases. Understood as the result of both “internal� and “external� factors, their vulnerability to introduced disease is as much a function of their increased susceptibility as it is of increased resource pressure on their lands. Since their susceptibility cannot be significantly altered immediately or without affecting their rights, the responsibility lies with local and national governments to limit exploitation on their lands. Not to do so constitutes a violation of isolated peoples’ rights to life and health.