Question

Write an essay about the topic "Medical epidemics and quarantining" in 350 words.

Answer 1

In the new millenium, centuries old - strategy of quarantine is  becoming a powerful component of public health response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.However, the use of quarantine and other measures for controlling epidemic disease has always being controversial because such strategies raise political, ethical and socio-ecnomic issues and require a careful balance between public interest and individual rights.

An epidemic (which is derived from greek words "epi" meaning upon or above and "demos "means people), is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time. Generally an epidemic occurs when the host immunity to either an established pathogen or newly emerging novel pathogen is suddenly reduced below that found in endemic equlibrium and the transmission threshold is exceeded. For eg: in meningococcal infections , an attack rate in excess of 15 cases /100000 population is considered to be an epidemic.

Quarantine ( derived from an Italian word "quaranta" meaning 40) was adopted as a obligatory means of seperating persons, animals, goods that might have been exposed to a contagious disease. Since 14th centuary, quarantine has been a corner stone of a co-ordianted disease control strategy including isolation, sanitary cordons, fumigation, disinfection and regulation of groups of persons who are believed to be reponsible for spreading the infection. It is distinct from "medical isolation", in which those confirmed to be infected with communicable are isolated from healthy population.According to a rapid review published in "Lancet" in response to COVID-19 pandemic, "stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate suppliesand  information, financial loss and stigma.

Over the centuries, public health measures have been an essential way to reduce contact between person sick with a disease and persons susceptoble to the disease. In the absence of pharmaseutical interventions, such measures helped contain infection, delay the spread of the disease, avert terror and death, and maintain the infra-structure of the society. But these measures by their nature requires vigilant attention to avoid causing prejudice and intolerance. Public trust must be gained through regular transparent and comprehensive communications that balance the risk and benefit of public health interventions.