The Covid-19 pandemic swept over our nation suddenly in 2020, killing approximately 500,000 people in the first year of the pandemic. Hospitals, emergency care systems, and mortuaries were overwhelmed. Mandatory quarantines, shortages of medical supplies, disruption of supply chains, disruption of employment and education systems rocked our lives. Today we are still recovering from the economic and mental health effects of the pandemic.
Our Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor Covid variants and rates of infection. Vaccines continue to be updated and available on routine schedules to protect us. The necessity of infectious disease preparedness is clearly indicated to mitigate any effects of future epidemics or pandemics.
Infectious diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. You can implement prevention measures more effectively when you understand the transmission pathways of infectious diseases.
Bacteria - Bacteria grow and survive in reservoirs that can be people, animals, insects, soil, food, air, or water. You can be infected by direct contact touching, mucus membrane contact, or fecal-oral contact with intestinal bacteria. A vector like a mosquito, tick or fly can transfer bacterial infections. Drinking improperly treated water or eating contaminated food can transmit bacteria. Tuberculosis, measles, and varicella are bacterial infections that can be transmitted as airborne particles that can stay in the air for prolonged times and move longer distances from the source of infection.
Viruses – Viruses can spread by direct contact with infected people or animals. Viruses can be carried on droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person and spread by close contact or touching an infected surface.
Parasites – Parasites are organisms that live off a host organism. Some parasites cause illness for their host. There are three types of parasites:
protozoa, single-celled organisms like giardia found in contaminated water;
helminths, commonly known as worms; and
ectoparasites, insects and arachnids like fleas, ticks, and mites. You can be infected by parasites through contaminated water, soil, waste, blood, and food. Insects can be a carrier of infections like malaria. Unprotected sexual contact can transmit trichomonas. Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted by infected cat feces.
Infectious disease preparedness can lessen the severity of endemics or pandemics. When communities are aware of risks early there is an opportunity to implement protective measures like vaccines, social distancing, use of masks, early detection, and treatment. The economic, social and health impacts can be minimized for the community.
The 5 key components of infectious disease preparedness that you need to know are:
1. Surveillance and monitoring
Your local physicians, clinics, and hospitals report information about infectious diseases to your local or state health department. The CDC collects local data to provide national data. Under our Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the CDC physicians and epidemiologists provide medical guidance and assist in making regulations to decrease infectious diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides world-wide epidemiological data, advice, and technical support.
2. Vaccination and immunization programs
Your local health departments create and monitor disease prevention
programs to reduce infectious diseases. They implement vaccination programs locally for underserved populations. Vaccinations are developed, updated, and tested for safety by our National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Food and Drug Administration (USDA), and private pharmaceutical companies.
3. Health infrastructure and resources
The covid pandemic demonstrated limitations of our hospital systems, emergency response systems, supply chains, and resource availability. Hospitals are required to develop and maintain emergency plans. NIH provides studies to recommend resource allocation. HHS is responsible for declaring public health emergencies. During a public health emergency federal resources and funds can be available to supplement local emergency responses. During our covid pandemic our federal government sent nurses to eligible hospitals to improve staff shortages. They also were instrumental in acquiring ventilators, personal protective equipment, and disinfectants.
4. Community education and engagement
This is the key component where your personal action begins to make a difference. The work of HHS, CDC, FDA, NIH, USDA, and your local health department provide information and resources for your community to implement infectious disease preparation. Public awareness campaigns need your attention and support. Just today the USDA ordered testing of milk for bird flu. This is an early action to identify potential H5N1 outbreaks. Monitor your local news and health department’s public awareness campaigns. Share infectious disease information in your families and social groups. Help your community be aware and healthy.
5. Emergency response planning
Local, state, and federal health agencies collaborate to develop and maintain a coordinated response plan for infectious disease outbreaks. If you choose to become involved with your local health department, hospital, fire department, or Red Cross you will be more aware of your local emergency response plans.
Now you know the 5 key components of infectious disease preparedness. Now you are ready to take individual and community action steps:
Personal responsibility with handwashing, wearing masks, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, following vaccination schedules, and staying informed about health advisories.
Community responsibility with volunteering for community health programs and awareness campaigns.
Provisional COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance
COVID-19 deaths | WHO COVID-19 dashboard
How to Avoid Infectious Diseases
Preventing Infectious Diseases | Early Care and Education Portal | CDC
Bacterial Infections: Overview - PMC
Ebola Disease Basics | Ebola | CDC
Parasitic Infections | Definition and Patient Education
Resource allocation criteria in a hospital - PMC
Local Health Departments Impact Our Lives Every Day
List of Public Health Emergency Declarations
USDA orders testing of milk for bird flu
National Response Plan
https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NRP_Brochure.pdf Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board