Question

SUBJECT FIELD: PUBLIC HEALTH
Public health officials and communities are responsible for investigating infectious disease cases, as well as making sure they control the spread of the disease within the community. Their ultimate goal is to reduce and prevent future occurrences.
For the Case Study, respond to the following.
?   Describe an infectious disease (You pick) in your community and how it is transmitted.
?   Discuss two public health programs (You pick) or interventions in your community that was created to reduce the spread of the infectious disease identified.
?   Explain if these programs have been successful in the community. What would you change or add to improve the intervention programs?
?  
Your case study must be a minimum of two pages in length, title, and reference pages NOT INCLUDED IN NUMBER OF PAGES. To support your ideas, use a minimum of three outside sources

Answer 1

Question - Case study of an infectious disease

Solution -

​​​For the case study, the infectious disease I'm considering here is the spread of Corona virus disease.

CORONA VIRUS DISEASE 2019

Corona virus disease or COVID-19 is now one among the widely spreading disease in the world. COVID-19 is an illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). No drugs or biologic have yet been approved found for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19, and no vaccine is currently available.

Most cases in children are mild, and the treatment consists of supportive care.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are cough and fever. However, these symptoms may not always be present. Shortness of breath, sore throat, diarrhea, fatigue, rhinorrhea, vomiting, nasal congestion are the other symptoms commonly seen.

TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person and also the virus most often spreads through people who have symptoms. But it is possible to pass it on without showing any signs. Some people who don't know they have been infected can give it to others. This is asymptomatic spread. You can also pass it on before you notice any signs of infection, called presymptomatic spread.

Sometimes, a person can trace how they have got the virus because they know they have been in contact with someone who's sick. In other cases, the cause is unknown. Community spread is when someone gets the virus without any known contact with a sick person.

There are several ways of transmission of COVID-19, like

Droplets or aerosols : when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks droplets or aerosols carry the virus into the air from their mouth or nose. Anyone who is 6 feet of that person can breathe in into their lungs.

Airborne transmission : Research shows that the virus can live in the air for up to 3 hours. It can get into lungs if someone who has it breathes out and you breathe that air.

Surface transmission : When you touch surfaces that someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed on. The virus can live on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for 2 to 3 days. To stop it, clean and disinfect surfaces you touch several times a day.

Fecal-oral: experts aren't sure whether the infection can spread through the contact with an infected stool. But studies suggest that virus particles can be found in it.

Researchers say that on average every person who has COVID-19 will pass it on to 2 or 2.5 others.

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS

Even as the number of COVID-19 cases goes up, daily life has resumed with prevention becoming the key. The AYUSH department has launched various schemes to help prevent the spread of the disease. They include -

AMRITAM PROJECT : to those who comes from foreign countries they have been given medicines and certain life style exercises to enhance their health.

PUNARJANI PROJECT : to those who have got the infection, certain methodologies are used to regain their strength back.

SUKHAAYUSHAM PROJECT : since death rates are more in older ages this project helps in enhancing their strength by yoga practices and certain daily medications which improves their immune system.

SWASTYAM PROJECT : this is to improve immunity of those who are below 60years of age.

Certain AYUR RAKSA CLINICS have been formed by the authorities to promote immune system. These clinics are now part of the COVID-19 monitoring system. The government has further roped in Ayurveda practitioners and students to join ASHA workers and volunteers in detecting 'suspicious symptoms of COVID-19 in an individual and report the same urgently to the government'.

In order to prevent disease spread not only the authorities but also the public should be more aware. Using masks, sanitizer are to be made very clear until the spread gets controlled.

The best way to slow the spread of the virus is to limit your contact with other people. This will help flatten the curve. Few ways to do this is :

-to work from home if possible

-wash your hands

-if you go out, stand at least 6 feet away from people

-visit with family and friends by phone and computer instead of in person

We should always keep in mind that PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.