Outbreak Of Disease

Outbreak Of Disease
As a definition, the outbreak relates to the epidemic occurrence of a disease more than it is normally expected, in a particular period of time and place. For an outbreak to form, tow connected cases of rare infections are needed. Outbreaks can be described as epidemics, taking place in a specific country, region or group of countries.

Some outbreaks like influenza and bronchitis are likely to appear every year while others appear unexpectedly. We can talk about an outbreak or an epidemic when a strange disease suddenly develops or a group of individuals have the same inexplicable symptoms. The term of epidemic is almost similar with the outbreak. The only difference is that it is used to describe the unusual appearance of an illness even if the seasonal characteristics are not convenient. On the other hand a pandemic refers to an illness which spreads among humans globally.

Outbreaks are usually determined by infections which can be transmitted through contact with an ill person, through exposure to environment conditions or by human to animal contact. Chemicals or radioactive materials can lead to outbreaks too. Sometimes the causes are inexplicable even after investigations are being done.

There are several causes which lead to transmission of outbreak diseases. The environmental factors such as water, climate, and sanitary conditions are prone to turn into epidemics and have a great influence in spreading the diseases. Poor living conditions, lack of clean waters or bad hygiene lead to diarrhoeal disorders causing numerous of deaths. Climate is another favourable element. For instance: heavy rains produce floods which determine water contamination affecting human communities who are very vulnerable. If infected, the spread of the disease is almost certain.

Exposure to chemicals or toxins creates a favourable environment for the diseases. Therefore investigating the causes of outbreaks is imperative. In order to find cures, epidemiological and toxicological tests are required. Unfortunately sometimes it takes years to determine the etiological agent, the toxicity level and the way it can be stopped.

These kinds of diseases need to be urgently reported to the public health officials as sometimes outbreaks may occur due to some modified pathogens or undetected radiations. If taken carefully, studies may point the possible causes allowing specialists to release a possible cure.

Children are more vulnerable than adults as their bodies don't have enough resources to fight the infestation. Biological and chemical agents which have symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea often attack small children increasing the risks of rapid progression since their organisms have less fluid reserves than adults.

It is necessary to avoid the activities within large groups in order to prevent virus spreading if it appears that the number of sick people is rapidly multiplying. Authorities must follow specific steps when investigating an outbreak: they must verify the diagnosis, to identify the outbreak's existence, to outline a case definition, to develop and study hypothesis and finally to implement prevention systems in order to have control over the outbreak.

Communicable Disease Surveillance

Communicable Disease Surveillance
Communicable diseases are those diseases that can be communicated form one person to another or from animals, insects, ticks, fish or birds to humans.

The World Health organization is the authoritative body regulating the health programmes internationally. The World Health Organization has a separate wing meant especially for surveillance on the communicable diseases. The surveillance wing is known as Global Alert and Response Wing.

The global Alert response has a vision of an incorporated approach to issuing alerts regarding communicable diseases and other public health emergencies on a global level. It also strives to base its work of international surveillance, on the strong national public health systems of each country.

Basic Functions:

* To support the member countries in their national endeavor against epidemic or communicable diseases. Based on the International Health Regulations, IHR (2005) the member countries are encouraged to implement the alert system on a national level and they also follow certain guidelines laid down by the World Health Organization with respect to laboratory capacities, early issue of warning alerts and response systems to epidemics.

* The World Health Organization- Global Alert Response also conducts and overlooks a variety of training programmes for preparation to handle communicable diseases, on a national and an international level.

* The Global Alert Response also coordinates and offers support to its member States and guides them on the standardized procedure for dealing with certain communicable diseases that have a high prevalence of turning in to epidemics.

* Global Alert Response also emphasizes on fortifying bio security, bio safety for the newly emerging disease outbreaks like in case of SARS, H1N1 (Swine flu) etc.

* To maintain a common platform for disease control operations and support for the local regional offices in the respective member countries.

Response Actions:

Once a communicable disease is identified and confirmed to be an Epidemic or a Pandemic, the Global Alert Response springs in to action, and takes the following steps as listed:

* Continuous tracking and monitoring of the spread of the disease.

* Verification of the notified cases and relevant data.

* Distribution of relevant information regarding the nature of the disease, how it is caused, the symptoms and signs of the disease, steps to be undertaken by the common public and medical professionals in dealing with the disease, preventive measures and also information regarding the latest available laboratory tests and the treatment available for that specific disease.

* To coordinate outbreak response logistics.