Question

select an emerging communicable disease.

1. Clearly identify the emerging communicable disease, source and location of emergence.

2. Analyze and discuss the reasons for the emergence.

3. Identify two strategies that might be used to address the disease.

Answer 1

Swine flu is an emerging communicable disease. It was spreading fast around the world. So world health organization called it as pandemic. People who have it can spread it one day before they have any symptoms and as many as 7days after they get sick.

Source and location of emergence:

H1N1 influenza virus was first detected in people in the United States in 2009. Center for disease control and prevention believes that this virus resulted from reassortment, a process through which one are two influenza viruses swap genetic information by infecting a single human or animal host. This emergen viruses will have unique characteristics that are like both of their parents. This H1N1 influenza viruses occurred by reassortment between influenza viruses circulating in North American pig herds and among Eurasian pig herds.

Reasons for emergence:

Pigs can be infected by influenza viruses found in birds and other animals as well as people. Therefore pigs represent a mixing vessel in which influenza from different species can swap genes. As a result swine influenza viruses with genes from humans, nortN American pigs and birds have existed in many part of the world for around 10 years prior to 2009 H1N1 flu. Mixing of these triple reassortant North American influenza viruses with Eurasian swine viruses likely resulted in the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Strategies to address the disease:

Use of Antiviral agents eg. Oseltamivir

Detection of influenza A virus by rapid influenza diagnostic tests

Infection control by health education regarding vaccination, proper hand wash, use of face mask, respirators, aseptic hospital procedures