Question

The Sacramento area was founded on the prospect of gold. Gold discovery in nearby Coloma brought countless people west with hopes of richer days and better choices for their families. In collaboration with a local merchant Sam Brannan, John Sutter and his family founded the city of Sacramento in 1848. In April of 1849, the population of the area was estimated at 150 people. By October of the same year, the population grew to a whopping 6,000 people (Wiegand, 1998). In mid-October of 1850 it is reported that a riverboat named the “New World” arrived in the area with a single passenger carrying the deadly cholera disease. As a result of exposure to cholera, reports indicated that within three weeks 800 people died of the disease. Many of those that perished are buried in a common grave located at the Old City Cemetery located at 1000 Broadway Street in Sacramento. Approximately 80 physicians were working during the time of the cholera outbreak, and 17 died from cholera within a year after initial exposure (Old City Cemetery, 2005). What type of outbreak is this? Explain and include aspects of how exposure occurred, description of whether it is epidemic, pandemic, or endemic, type of exposure etc.

Answer 1

Epidemic Disease:

A disease which infects a large group of people within a population , region or community in a short period of time.

Endemic Disease :

An infection which always present in a particular region or community to cause disease , there is no need of external stimulus to cause disease.i.e the disease is specific to a particular region or community.

Pandemic:

A disease will become pandemic when it spreads from one region to another region to cause disease.

From the given data it was observed that

1. Pandemic disease:

In the mid-October of 1850 a single passenger from new world boat transmits the disease to the city of Sacramento. - i.e the disease is spread from one region to another region.

2.Epidemic disease:

As a result of exposure to cholera, reports indicated that within three weeks 800 people died of the disease. i.e  disease which infects a large group of people within a population , region or community in a short period of time.

3.Endemic disease:

Approximately 80 physicians were working during the time of the cholera outbreak, and 17 died from cholera within a year after initial exposure

i.eAfter cholera outbreak disease has become endemic to particular popoulation therefore with only initial exposure 17 doctors were died witin a year due to cholera. i.e no need of external stimuls to cause a disease.