Question

1. What is considered an outbreak?

Answer 1

WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN OUTBREAK

A Disease outbreak is the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what normally be expected in a defined community,geographical area or season.An outbreak may occur in a restricted geographical area or may extend over several countries.It may last for a few days or weeks or for several years

In epidemiology,an outbreak is a sudden increase in occurrences of a disease in a particular time and place. It may affect a small and localized group or impact upon thousands of people across an entire continent.four linked cases of a rare infectious disease may be sufficient to constitute an outbreak

HOW DO YOU CONFIRM AN OUTBREAK

• Identify investigation team and resources
• Establish existence of an outbreak
• Verify the diagnosis
• Construct case definition
• Find cases systematically and develop line listing
• Perform descriptive epidemiology or develop hypotheses
• Evaluate hypotheses or perform additional studies as necessary
• Implement control measures
• Communicate findings
• Maintain surveillance

PRINCIPLES OF OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS

BE SYSTEMATIC

• Follow the same steps for every type of outbreak
• write down case definitions
• ask the same questions to everybody

STOP OFTEN REASSESS WHAT YOU KNOW

line list and epi curve provide valuable information ;many investigations never go past this point

COORDINATE WITH PARTNERS

(environmental and epidemiology)

WHEN TO INVESTIGATE

consider the following factors:

• severity of illness
• transmissibility
• ongoing illness or exposure
• public concern
• unanswered questions

public and press are not aware of most of outbreak investigations.Response to media attention is important to address public concerns about outbreak that means Single Overriding Communication Objective (SOCO)

HOW CAN WE PREVENT A DISEASE OUTBREAK

• Decrease your risk of infecting yourself or others:
• Wash your hands often
• Get vaccinated
• Use antibiotics sensibly
• Stay at home if you have signs and symptoms of an infection
• Be smart about food preparation
• Disinfect the hot zones in your residence
• Practice safer safe
• Dont share personal items

outbreaks can also be Behavioural risk related and zoonotic,

The pattern of occurence are

ENDEMIC : a communicable disease such as influenza measles mumps pneumonia colds smallpox which is characteristics of a particular place or among a particular group or area of interest or activity

EPIDEMIC : when this disease is found to infect a significantly large number of people at the same time than is common at that time and among population and may spread through one or several communities

PANDEMIC: occurs when an epidemic spreads worldwide

Outbreak legislation is still in its infancy and not many countries have had a direct and complete set of provisions .However,some countries do manage the outbreaks using relevant acts such as public health law.......