Question

You are responsible for public health policy for the state of California. Illustrate how you would use epidemiologic principles to construct a public health or public information campaign aimed at reducing the impact of an infectious disease of your choice. Your answer to this question should be between 6-8 sentences.

Answer 1

Let the infectious disease be trichinosis caused by intestinal roundworm which is transmitted through undercooked meat.

When epidemiologic principles are used to eradicate a disease there should be five points addressed to the health campaign.

1. Control : The reduction of disease incidence, prevalence and mortality to a locally acceptable level as a result of deliberate efforts; continued intervention measures are required to maintain the reduction.
2. Elimination of disease : Reduction to zero of the incidence of a specified disease in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued intervention measures are required to maintain the reduction.
3. Elimination of infections: Reduction to zero of the incidence of infection caused by a specific agent in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts; continued measures to prevent re-establishment of transmission are required.
4. Eradication: Permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by a specific agent by deliberate efforts; intervention measures are no longer needed.
5. Extinction: The specific infectious agent no longer exists in the nature or in the laboratory.