Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Prevention and Control of the Flu
The flu is a serious illness but one of its great advantages is that a vaccine does exist to contain its spread and prevent or at least mitigate its symptoms. The flu is a virus and available antiviral medications like Tamiflu are not as effective as treating, for example, a bacterial infection with an antibiotic. The most effective method of treating the flu is to not get it at all -- which is why vaccination is so essential. However, even flu vaccinations are not particularly effective on a seasonal basis: "A flu virus mutates at an exceptionally high rate as it reproduces, and some mutations will change the tips of the surface proteins. The antibodies cannot grab tightly to the altered tips, so the virus is able to proceed with its invasion. From one flu season to the next, the evolution of the flu renders last season's vaccine useless" (Zimmer 2013). The flu vaccine is not always a good match for the season's current strain.
The mutability of the flu means that it is particularly dangerous when unique strains surface, such as that of H1N1 (so called 'swine flu' because of its origin) in 2009. Although this virus did not become a pandemic, the risk was there "because it was...
The flu is not an identified bioterrorism risk but a flu pandemic can substantially hamper a nation's productivity. Even if a vaccine is created, distribution can be challenging. The U.S., despite its considerable resources, struggled with H1N1 vaccine shortages and a developing world nation would have even greater challenges in the face of an unexpected pandemic due to a mutated virus.
Topic C: Helminth or other non-malaria parasitic infections
"It is estimated that over a third of the world's population, mainly those individuals living in the tropics and sub-tropics, are infected by parasitic helminths (worms) or one or more of the species of Plasmodium" (Mwangi, Bethony, & Brooker 2006). The developing world is at particular risk due to poor hygienic practices and sanitation. Because of infrastructure problems within the developing world in terms of adequate sanitation, worms remain one of the most difficult vectors of infection to eradicate. It has been noted that prevalence of infection is often household-specific,…
References
Mwangi, T. Bethony. J. & Brooker, S. (2006). Malaria and helminth interactions in humans: an epidemiological viewpoint. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 100(7): 551-570. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1858631/
Zimmer, C. (2013). The quest to end the flu. The Atlantic. Retrieved from:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/the-quest-to-end-the-flu/354677/
Disease Prevention Strategies For as long as human beings have fallen ill and succumbed to the ravages of disease, society has struggled to comprehend the invisible menace of microbial germs. The spread of infectious disease from person to person, from home to home, and within entire communities, has always wreaked havoc on humanity, and the field of medicine has struggled to counter the consequences of passable infections. From the Black Death
diseases West Nile virus, malaria, plague, and yellow fever. Specifically, it will discuss the history and distribution of the diseases in the United States or worldwide, and compare each of the diseases based on the categories above, as to which is most important individually and overall in terms of relative impact. West Nile virus only appeared in the United States in 1999, but it has become quite a feared disease
94). The modern legal definition of disease provides a useful starting point for an examination of the concept of disease and how it is regarded by various disciplines. According to Black's Law Dictionary (1990), disease is a "deviation from the healthy or normal condition of any of the functions or tissues of the body. An alternation in the state of the body or some of its organs, interrupting or disturbing
Health Map The risk of a pandemic disease spreading throughout the globe is higher than it has ever been in the history of the world. The massive population boom and rapid travel methods have combined to demonstrate that germs and diseases are potential weapons against the health and welfare of the population. To help remedy this cause, technology has shown us that, with its proper implementation, it can have a great
detection of the Borna disease virus relating them to the epidemiology. The first cases of Borna disease were described in the 17-19th century in Southern Germany. It was discovered to be a fatal disease affecting the neurological systems of horses and sheep, (Ludwig et al., 1985; Durrwald, 1993) causing behavioral and neurological symptoms. It was proven to be caused by a 2003] Today it is being realized that the scope of
This could include symptoms such as, Coughing Throat irritation Pain, burning, or discomfort in the chest when taking a deep breath Chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath (Health Effects of Ozone in the General Population) References Health Effects of Ozone in the General Population. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/apti/ozonehealth/population.html Kamps B. And Hoffmann C. SARS Reference: Epidemiology. Retrieved from http://www.sarsreference.com/sarsref/epidem.htm Key Measures for SARS Preparedness and Response. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/core/keymeasures.htm Markey M. SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.safetyissues.com/site/health/sars_severe_acute_respiratory_syndrome.html Meng