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Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND POPULATION-FOCUESD NURSING 1 COMMUNITY HEALTH AND POPULATION Task 2 Western Governors University International Outbreak A. Select a specific outbreak that has occurred within the last 50 years that included human to human transmission that crossed at least one international border. A specific outbreak that has occurred within the last 50 years that included human to human transmission that crossed at least one international border that I am going to be writing about is the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus outbreak in West Africa that internationally transmitted to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) explain that the Ebola Virus Disease is an extremely fatal disease that is thought to be animal-borne. They state that this disease can appear between 2 to 21 days after coming in contact with the virus, with symptoms ranging from a fever to hemorrhaging (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). B. Description of a chosen international outbreak The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) explained that the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus was alerted on January 24, 2014 in a rural region of southeastern Guinea of West Africa. They stated that the initial case was reported in December of 2013, where unfortunately an 18- month boy had believed to become infected by bats. Subsequently, they said that five other fatal cases were reported around the same area. They then declared the Ebola Virus an outbreak on March 23, 2014 with 49 confirmed cases and, sadly, 29 deaths. On September 30, 2014, they
reported that the first travel-associated case of the Ebola Virus was detected in the United States. They explained a man from Dallas, Texas was diagnosed with the Ebola Virus after he had traveled to West Africa, and woefully, passed away on October 8, 2014. They also reported that the two health care workers caring for this man also tested positive for the Ebola virus, and did recover. On October 2, 2014, they mentioned, that a medical aid from New York, who had also been to West Africa, had been diagnosed with the Ebola Virus, with recovery. They showed that in Guinea, total cases (suspected, probable, and confirmed) was 3,814, laboratory confirmed cases was 3,358, and total deaths was 2,544. In the United States, they showed, total cases (suspected, probable and confirmed) was 4, laboratory confirmed was 4, and total deaths was 1 (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). B1. Epidemiological Determinants and Risk Factors The World Health Organization (2019) explain that the epidemiological determinants of the Ebola Virus are intrusion into forested areas, population growth, and direct contact with wildlife. They then state that those at highest risk include health care workers, family members or those in close contact of someone infected with the Ebola Virus, and those who have been in direct contact of a body or bodies of those who have passed away from the Ebola Virus, such as mourners. They explain that the Ebola Virus mode of transmission is through direct contact with infected animals, either through killing, cooking, or eating, as well as through contact with bodily fluids of the infected. They explain that to spread the Ebola Disease, the host must have a break in the skin or mucous membrane. They then explain that the virulence of the Ebola Virus is, unfortunately, up to 90% (The World Health Organization, 2019).
the community of the Ebola Virus, how it is spread, seeking treatment for any signs or symptoms, and how to stop the spread. B4. Reporting Protocol for an Outbreak in My Community The Virginia Department of Health (2018) report that Section 32.1 of the Code of Virginia legally requires facilities or programs to report any possible outbreak to the local health department, which is in the city or county in which the facility of program is in. They explain this includes those in charge of any residential housing, day programs, services licensed/operated by the Commonwealth, schools, summer camps, child care, assisted-living/nursing homes, correctional/detention facilities, mental health programs, hospitals, physicians and directors of laboratories, and all group settings where outbreaks can arise. They state that those who work in places where people are in close proximity to others, need to become aware of when many people are getting sick with similar symptoms, and to report them immediately. They further explain the outbreaks to report are those illnesses that can easily be spread from one person to another, including: respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal illnesses, rash illnesses, and environmental exposures (Virginia Department of Health, 2018). B5. Two Strategies to Prevent an Outbreak in My Community One strategy to prevent an outbreak of the Ebola Virus in my community would be community education strategies. This could be done by informing the community of the signs and symptoms
to be aware of, when do seek treatment, how the disease is spread, and how to halt the disease from spreading. This can be done through social media, such as through commercials or information provided on websites. It can also be done through community education programs, hosted at local rec centers or hospitals. Another strategy to prevent outbreak of the Ebola Virus in my community would be through mandatory screening questions at hospitals and medical offices. The confidential questions would include if they have ever traveled ever outside of the US, where they went, how long they were there for, foods they ate during their time away, and if they experienced any type of sickness during or after their trip. If they did experience any type of sickness during or after their trip, they would be asked to explain their symptoms. Also, they would be asked if they had open skin tears/sores, any illicit drug use, and sexual encounters. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019. 2014-2016 ebola outbreak in west africa. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/2014-2016-outbreak/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018. Signs and symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018. Transmission. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html Virginia Department of Health. 2018. Outbreak reporting. Retrieved from http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/outbreak-reporting/ World Health Organization. 2019. Frequently asked questions on ebola virus disease. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/ebola/frequently-asked-questions
