...Communicable Disease Outbreak Analysis Evelyn Sutton Western Governor's University Communicable Disease Outbreak Analysis There are many diseases that have become a thing of the past due to vaccines that are routinely given during infancy and early childhood in the United States. These diseases still exist but we just see it very rarely now. When a person is diagnosed with one of these communicable diseases in the United States, it is reported to the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Centers of Disease Control so it can be investigated further. This is required so they can monitor for any outbreaks that may occur and find the origin of where and how it was contracted. Any case of the measles that is diagnosed in the United States is said to have come over through international travel in some way. Measles Outbreak In December of 2014, during the holiday season, a measles outbreak was beginning at two adjacent Disneyland locations in California. It was first discovered on January 5, 2015, when the California Department of Public Health was notified about an eleven-year-old child who was unvaccinated for the measles and hospitalized with a rash onset on December 28, 2014 (Clemmons, Gastanaduy, Fiebelkorn, Redd, & Wallace, 2015). Just two days later, a total of seven cases of measles had been discovered. It started out with seven cases and by the time the outbreak was declared over in April of 2015, there had been a total of 136 confirmed cases...
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...Red Crescent Societies Control of communicable diseases 7 This measles 'jab' will help prevent this child from the consequences of measles such as pneumonia, malnutrition, blindness and brain disease. Photo:Marko Kokic,Canadian Red Cross Control of communicable diseases in emergencies Description This chapter gives an overview of common and emerging communicable disease threats among displaced populations because of natural and human-made disasters. General and disease-specific strategies for monitoring, preventing and controlling disease outbreaks are discussed. Learning objectives To review communicable diseases of public health importance; To discuss the basic principles for communicable disease control in emergency and post-conflict situations; To plan a communicable disease control programme for emergency settings; To discuss simple but effective ways of preventing outbreaks of communicable diseases; To describe how to manage specific disease outbreaks in emergency settings; To review re-emerging and other diseases that may affect displaced populations; To discuss how to monitor and evaluate communicable disease control programmes. Key competencies Identify communicable diseases of public health importance; Discuss the basic principles for communicable disease control in emergency and post-conflict situations; Discuss how to design and evaluate disease control programmes; Describe common disease control strategies including prevention...
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...Communicable disease outbreak - HAT Task 3 Analyze the selected communicable disease outbreak: SARS Disease overview Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness begins with a high fever (greater than 100.4 degrees F). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some individuals experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. Diarrhea is seen in approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patient may develop a dry, nonproductive cough that might be accompanied by hypoxia. In 10 to 20 percent of cases, patients require mechanical ventilation. Most patients develop pneumonia. The disease is spread by close person-to-person contact through direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of an infected individual. The incubation period is typically 2 to 7 days, but there are reported cases of up to 14 days. An individual is considered infectious only when they have symptoms, and are considered most contagious during the second week of illness. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in November 2002 a SARS outbreak emerged in South China. An infected medical doctor who had treated infected patients...
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...education is the development of a student’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge to actual practice. Appropriate learning objectives guide instructors to develop and design instructional and assessment method that will help achieve this goal. McDonald (2007) stated “Taxonomies provide a useful framework for the development of objectives that accurately reflect the levels of learning” (pg. 43). Bloom’s Taxonomy is commonly utilized and facilitates the acquisition of new skills through use of sight, emotion, and action pathways (Benner, Sutphen, Leonard, & Day, 2010). Community Health Course Objectives: At the end of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Identify the role of the nurse in health promotion, teaching, and disease prevention and effective health planning and community assessment concepts. Analysis – This objective requires students to recognize and understand the roles community health nurses play in health promotion and community health agencies. 2. Implement community health concepts through a practicum at a community health agency. Application - Students will have the opportunity to apply concept learned in the classroom to community health situations experienced at a community health agency. 3. Examine basic epidemiological, surveillance, and environmental health concepts as related to community health. Analysis – By exploring and articulating epidemiological, surveillance and environmental...
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...Communicable Disease: Chickenpox Grand Canyon University: NRS 427v December 10, 2014 Communicable Disease: Chickenpox The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) defines a communicable disease as “an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host.” There are numerous communicable diseases being studied, treated, prevented, and diagnosed around the world. For the purpose of this paper, one communicable disease in particular will be examined, chickenpox. This paper will address chickenpox as a communicable disease, determinants of health leading to chickenpox, how chickenpox relates to the epidemiologic triangle, the role of the community nurse in their treatment and prevention of chickenpox, and organizations involved on the national level. Epidemiology Chickenpox is a reaction to a virus by the name of varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus is also known to cause a reaction called shingles later in the adult life. Chickenpox causes patients to have an itchy blister-like rash. Other symptoms that are a fever, sleepiness, decrease in appetite, and headache (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). These symptoms can develop a day or two before the rash (CDC, 2012). Chickenpox can spread easily from an infected...
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...stages from two to three weeks over time. An infected person with the virus can spread to others within the eight day period (2014, May 24). This childhood virus can stop being spread if children get their first dose of the vaccine at the age of 15 months. The next dose can be given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to 6 years of age. The measles virus is severe and can be terminal for small children. The vaccinations delivered in the United States has had a high result in stopping the widespread. Measles was affirmed phased out in the United States in the year 2000. A new recent outbreak according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that one hundred and two people in fourteen different states have reported measles. The last break that occurred was at Disneyland in California in mid-December (2014, April 30). This does show that measles is a highly communicable respiratory disease caused by a virus and spread through the air. The people that contacted the virus had a low respiratory tract (2014, May 29). On January 5, 2015, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified about a suspected measles case. The...
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...The position of a community health nurse has many obstacles including the transmission of communicable diseases. While there are many that exist in local jurisdictions, global communicable diseases may pose a threat for the world. Especially for people who travel abroad are presumed to be at higher risk to contract a communicable disease. For instance, SARS is a respiratory illness that could potentially lead to many health issues for an individual but can also be transmitted to others. If this illness is identified in a particular community the health care professionals to include the community nurse should be able to analyze the epidemiology, cause and manifestations of the disease, as well as the mode of transmission. The educated community nurse should have the knowledge base to deal with the outbreak of SARS. In order to meet the community needs as it relates to a communicable disease, the community nurse must take on specific measures. They must identify the disease along with its manifestations of symptoms and effective interventions to stop the spread. The causative agent for SARS is usually the Corona Virus, which is known for attacking a person’s respiratory system. The most common symptoms of SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, are headache, body aches, muscle aches, and a fever greater than 104 degrees. It is possible for a person too have diarrhea, coughing, and shortness of breath. It is usually spread through bodily secretions, such as coughing...
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... Tuberculosis Crossing International Borders Tuberculosis is a potentially infectious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium that mainly affects the lungs, but can attack other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys and spine. This disease, if not treated properly, can be deadly. Tuberculosis (TB) is spread through the air via droplets that enter the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and is inhaled by a person nearby. A person infected with TB may or may not have symptoms and not everyone will get sick. A person with Latent TB has the Mycobacterium living within their body but their body is able to fight the bacteria and prevents them from getting sick. The person with Latent TB is not infectious at that time but if a person’s immune system goes down and the body is no longer able to fight off the bacteria the patient will become ill and then will become infectious to others. This is called Active TB Disease. A person does not always show signs of being sick and may be infectious without even knowing. TB symptoms include a cough lasting 3 weeks or longer, bloody sputum, fatigue, night sweats, decreased appetite and fiver with chills. Treatment can include taking a medication regimen of INH and Rifampin for up to 9 months. Testing for TB can be done in several ways. A TB skin test can be done to see if a person has been exposed to the disease. A chest x-ray can be performed to examine the lungs for changes consistent with TB. A blood...
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...was eradicated in our country. Despite the fact, that the world has made enormous progress in the fight against measles in the last decade, this virus seems to be attacking and killing people again. The measles outbreak started in the Disneyland California in December of 2014. It is still unknown, who brought the virus to the “Happiest place on earth”, but according to the CDC, measles most likely was brought to the park by an infected foreign visitor (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention .Measles Cases and Outbreaks, 2015). The virus was first reported on December 28, 2014 in the case of a not immunized 11-year-old child. On January 5, 2015 four additional measles cases in California and two in Utah were linked to the Disneyland in Orange County. From December 28, 2014 to March 15, 2015 total of 125 people from several states including California, WA, AC, CO, NE, UA were reported to be infected with the same measles virus. After further virus examination, CDC determined that this virus is linked to measles genotype B3 2014 epidemic outbreak in Philippines. In the last six months, same measles virus was also reported in Mexico, Canada and 12 other countries around the globe( Centers For Disease Control and Prevention .Measles Outbreak — California, December 2014–February 2015). 2a. The measles virus remains in the infected person in the nasal and oral mucosa and can spread to other people via the droplet route ( when person coughs or sneezes). This...
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...Chickenpox a Communicable Disease Cynthia Hahn Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V July 5, 2015 Chickenpox is an infection caused by the highly contagious varicella-zoster virus. A common communicable disease which can be a harmless or deadly disease depending on the community which is affected. Education and healthcare prevention will prove evident in the control of the spread of the chickenpox disease. Chickenpox is an airborne disease which is spread by coughing and sneezing of an infected person or direct contact with skin lesions. The initial symptoms of chickenpox are a fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache and a sore throat. A red skin rash appears a few days after the initial symptoms and forms small, itchy blisters. “After a chickenpox red spot appears, it usually takes about 1 or 2 days for the spot to go through all its stages, this includes blistering, bursting, drying and crusting over. New red spots will appear every day for up to 5 to 7 days” (Chickenpox (Varicella)-Topic Overview, n.d.). The rash initially appears on the face, back and chest to quickly cover the body including mucous membranes such as the mouth, genital area or in the ears. These symptoms will begin ten to twenty-one days after exposure to a contagious person. The virus can be spread by a person who is infected with chickenpox before symptoms even appear and until all blisters have crusted over...
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...Community Health & Population-Focused Nursing Western Governors University Measles 1. Describe the Chosen Outbreak Measles is virus with a single-stranded RNA and two membranes: a fusion protein that infuses into the host cell membrane and the hemagglutinin protein that absorbs the virus into the cells. The primary site for invasion is in the epithelium of the nares. Measles is highly contagious and very infectious because it is easily transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours and infect many people who inhale the infectious agent or touch a surface, then be introduced to a new host through touch to the eyes or nose. Once the measles virus (agent) enters a person, he is now a host and harbor the virus. The virus enters its incubation period that can last 10 to 12 days before any symptoms of sickness usually a fever of 103-105 degrees. This incubation period is a communicable stage because the virus can be spread to another before the original victim is even aware of being infected. A few days later the virus (infection) invades the lymph nodes, multiplies, and enters the blood stream. Five to seven days later, the virus is in the respiratory system and the pathological reaction to the infection is now a disease: a cough, runny nose, possible eye infection, followed by spots. These spots are in the mucous membranes and is the first real indication of...
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...Communicable Disease Paper While it has not claimed the number of lives that some more prominent communicable diseases have, the Ebola virus remains one of the most feared diseases the planet has ever known. Ebola is the subject of much attention from Hollywood; Ebola outbreaks quickly become public knowledge, and always have the potential to cause a panic. Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever, which causes victims to have a difficult time coagulating blood cells. (Bardi, 2002) The results are gruesome, with the afflicted suffering greatly and rarely surviving. Due to the devastating potential Ebola holds, efforts to control it are unprecedented. Nongovernmental organizations like the World Health Organization are often on the scene of a potential Ebola outbreak within days, working to ensure that the disease does not spread beyond the Ground Zero outbreak. The known outbreaks of Ebola have occurred in African countries like Zaire, predominately because of environmental factors. While it is a brutal killer, Ebola is not an especially hardy specimen; it is very easily killed by the cold, and thus is found in the warm and semi-tropical climates noted in Africa. (Waterman, 1999) In addition, researchers have determined that Ebola is probably carried by monkeys, which are in abundance in Africa; Europe and the United States lacks significant monkey populations, which limits the potential for an outbreak to occur there. Additional factors for why the Ebola virus tends to pop...
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...Communicable Disease Paper: Influenza John Doe HCS/457 Professor Monica Vargas September 13, 2015 Communicable Disease Paper: Influenza Malaria, Hepatitis, Polio, Tuberculosis, Pertusus, Ebola, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Influenza. These are just a number of communicable diseases that people are faced with. “Communicable diseases spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person. The spread often happens via airborne viruses or bacteria, but also through blood or other bodily fluid. The terms infectious and contagious are also used to describe communicable disease” (Global Health, 2015). One of the most common known communicable disease is Influenza, commonly known as the flu. According to the American Journal for Microbiology, Influenza can send more than 200,000 people to the hospital a year, while having death as an end result from the flu or from flu-related complications (JVI, 2015). There are various environmental factors that are related to the flu, while having an influence by lifestyles, socioeconomic statuses as well as disease management. From all of this the public health department is trying to not only reduce the threats that are caused by influenza, but the data and evidence-based interventions are a start to a plan in ensuring quality health. Influenza and Efforts to Control it Influenza or the Flu, is a contagious illness that affects the respiratory system. It comes in forms of mild to severe, with the unfortunate ending...
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...1 Communicable Disease Report Avian Influenza 2 Avian Influenza , also called AI or Bird Flu, is a viral infection that infects domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys quail, geese and wild birds as well. The Avian Influenza virus is divided into two groups the highly pathogenic group and the low pathogenic group. The HPAI spreads rapidly among birds and has a high death rate. The LPAI causes only minor illness in birds and occurs naturally in migratory birds. Avian Influenza often causes no apparent signs of illness and in some cases has been reported to cross the species barrier and cause disease and/ or infection in humans. The Avian FLu first infected humans through the H5N1 AI virus in 1997 during an outbreak of AI through poultry in Hong Kong. (Protect Your Birds From Avian Influenza, www.USDA.com ), (Avian influenza, www.WHO.int/mediacentre ). The most recent global outbreak of Avian Influenza found for this report was in 2003, 2004. During this time the Avian Flu spread from Asia to Europe and Africa resulting in millions of poultry infections, hundreds of human cases and many human deaths as a result. In December of 2003 the most recent global outbreak of H5N1 strain of AI began when South Korea identified the virus in their poultry populations. In addition through import and ...
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...Recognition and Types of Infectious Diseases Following Disasters TUI University Professor Dr. Paul Persaud Fall 2015 For this Case Assignment you are to comment on the similarities and differences in pre-event preparation between an infectious disease event and other emergencies. The initial pre-planning response to most natural disaster is the same, however; in many cases emergency responders are the first to detect an infectious disease outbreak. For this reason it is important to properly pre-plan in advance for events that have potential in developing infectious disease outbreaks, which is common in developing countries following a natural disaster. The health impacts associated with the sudden crowding coupled with large numbers of survivors, often with insufficient access to safe water and sanitation facilities, will require planning for both medical and preventive interventions, such as rehydration, antibiotics and vaccination materials (World Health Organization, 2006). The sooner the incident and at-risk patients are identified, the higher the likelihood of decreasing morbidity, mortality, and cost associated with the event. The biggest difference between infectious disease disasters and other natural mass casualty’s events is that infectious disease disasters are more difficult to detect. With natural disasters, and even traditional or chemical terrorism, there is an obvious sign that something abnormal has happened or is going to happen. This...
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