Question

In a 400-600 word answer, properly cited with an APA-formatted reference list and in-text citations, please answer the following questions. In addition to the researched facts you present as your answer, you may provide opinions and real-world experiences where appropriate.

Shaken to the Core,

Scenario: A severe earthquake just occurred in your area. Homes, public services (such as power, water, and trash removal), and many lives have been lost. Full evacuation is not likely. Living conditions in local shelters have become crowded and unhygienic. The hospital generators have failed and the morgue is full. At this rate, communicable disease begins to threaten the health of the residents. Luckily, you are a healthcare professional specializing in epidemiology and can help the community make plans to survive until they can rebuild.

Please review any applicable pages in the WHO guide listed below. The tables on pages 11 and 170 will be particularly helpful in this scenario.

1- Imagine and describe the living conditions or other characteristics of the disaster situation in your locale. What kind of damage occurred as a result of the earthquake? If you are near an ocean, was there a tsunami? Fire, flooding, or even nuclear fallout could be at play depending on the characteristics of your locale. Take inventory of the public services in your community that are still available and those that have been lost.

2- After conducting research into the threat of disease in a disaster situation, describe which specific communicable diseases pose the greatest threat to your area. In what ways could those diseases arise from the damaged infrastructure, living conditions, and disruption in facilities or services?

3- Prepare a brief report to be delivered to local authorities including specific actions that should be taken to prevent disease. What are the priorities, equipment, personnel, or other factors needed to prevent the loss of more lives?

Resources to get you started: Environmental health in emergencies and disasters: A practical guide, Pages 9-22, 168-174

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/42561/1/9241545410_eng.pdf

Cholera Confirmed in Haiti, October 21, 2010

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5943a4.htm

Assessment Criteria Papers will be assessed on how well the 3 points above are addressed.

In addition, papers will be graded on organization, grammar, and APA formatting.

Answer 1

Ans 1. - As a severe earthquake has struck in our locale , there has been devastating effects. Weak structures have crumbled down. People tapped in them. In few areas overbridges have crashed trapping cars, blocking traffic. Phone lines are down due to damage to telecom towers. only sat phones working. power lines are down causing blackout. As power is down, circulation and treatment of water and sewage is not happpening. There are damage to gas lines causing fire and gas supply is down also. Due to earthquake aftershock a large tidal wave has flooded the areas near ferrry pier. Due to power outage the pumping systems are down and the area is water logged. But the stores contain packaged drinking water and canned food that lasts for a yaer or two that might be helpful. people are adviced to drink packaged water or boil the water. People are asked to use battery operated lights. Saety shelter camps offering food ,clothes ,medicine should be set up. The people affected by the epedemic should be qurantined to prevent further outbreak. The place should be sanitized with disinfectants which are still available.

2 Ans. After assessing the senario , it is understandable the area is high risk being affected by water boune diseases like typhoid, cholera etc and vector borne diseases like malaria. Due to power otage water treatment and sewagw treatment plants are also down. In some are areas ther might be dage to sewage lines. Due to consumption of untreatted water and food typhoid and cholera might occur. Due to damage to sewage lines and open defeacation flies are attracted to the area causing further spread. The ater logged conditions provide perfect breeding ground for mosquitos. Due to damage to the surrounding, wild animals like venomous snakes might barge into the locality.

3. Ans. By working with the local authorities following steps are taken to remedy the situation :
1. The local authoritie have set up cmps that provide packaged food, safe drinking water, medicine and shelter to people

2. The people affected by epidemics like cholera , typhoid have been quarantined to prevent further outbreak.

3. Diesel powered pumps are being used to extract water from water logged areas.

4. People are provided with mosquito repellent and snake repelleent.
5. All wastes are colled properly and burned safely in an area to prevent breeding of vectors like flies.