Communicable Disease Epidemics

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Communicable DiseaseEpidemics

• Dr. Jacqueline Dougé
• Deputy Health Officer
• Frederick County Health Department

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What is an epidemic?

• A rapidly spreading outbreak of a contagious
  disease. An event that affects many individuals
  throughout an area at the same time.

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Epidemics have occurred through out history

• There are accounts of epidemics from biblical
  times and epidemics continue to plague the
  world especially underdeveloped countries.

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Some epidemics commonly occur each year.

• Common epidemics include illnesses like
  influenza.

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Rare epidemics have also occurred through out the
years.

• Some of these rare epidemics include illnesses
  that we now have vaccines to prevent.

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Examples of epidemics

• Polio 1916, 1949, 1952
• Spanish Influenza 1918
• Plague
• Measles
• Smallpox
• AIDS
• Influenza - annual
• SARS

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The start of an epidemic

• Disease is spread in two ways
• Insect/organism to human contact
• Avian Influenza
• Plague
• Lyme Disease
• West Nile Virus
• Human to human contact
• Influenza
• Measles
• AIDS
• Smallpox

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Preventing a epidemic

• Break the insect/organism spread to humans
• Decrease or eliminate fleas that carry plague
• Avoid contact with sick birds/poultry
• Eliminate mosquitoes
• Prevent contact with tics
• Break the human to human transmission
• Avoid contact with sick persons Social
  distancing
• Hand washing
• Cough Etiquette (Show video)
• Immunizations

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Social Distancing

• Stay home when you dont feel well.
• This prevents spreading germs to others.
• Avoid social gatherings such as
• School
• Church
• Parties
• Any place where you will be in close contact with
  others

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Hand washing

• Wash your hands often
• Single most important way to prevent the spread
  of germs
• Warm running water and soap
• This is definitely important if hands are visibly
  soiled
• Wash for 20 seconds
• Sing the Happy Birthday song 2 times
• Hand sanitizers
• Not a substitute for washing hands

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Cough Etiquette

• Cover you nose and mouth when coughing and
  sneezing
• Wash hands
• Do it in your sleeve
• Fabric captures the germs and they die there
• Video Why Dont We Do It In Our Sleeves
• Teach your children

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Immunizations

• Be sure you and your children have your
  vaccinations up-to-date
• Annual vaccination influenza
• Injectable
• 6 months of age and older
• Intranasal FluMist
• 2-49 years of age
• Good health
• Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  during the flu season

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Available immunizations

• Measles, Mumps Rubella
• Polio
• Pertussis
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Smallpox
• Pneumonia
• Influenza

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Whats in the news

• MRSA
• Hospital acquired
• Hospitalized individuals are exposed during
  hospitalization
• Many develop while hospitalized
• May develop shortly after hospital discharge
• Community acquired
• Infection is not associated with a hospitalization

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Preventing MRSA

• Hospital acquired
• Hospitals are routinely culturing certain
  patients
• Self-advocate
• Hand washing
• Standard precautions
• Contact precautions

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Preventing MRSA

• Community acquired
• Good hygiene
• Cleaning of personal shared equipment
• Keep lesions covered until healed
• Hand washing
• Environmental cleaning

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QUESTIONS???
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For further information

• www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept
• www.cdc.gov