4.4: Public Health Responses to Epidemics
- Page ID
- 116194
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Epidemiology arose out of the need to respond to disease and disasters. Initially, infectious diseases (or communicable diseases) were the main focus of epidemiology, in particular, large outbreaks of disease (epidemics) and outbreaks of disease on ships (seen as a danger when they would arrive in port in a new location). A key moment in the development of epidemiology was when John Snow discovered the source of the cholera outbreak in London and broke the handle off the Broad Street pump. That story is told in Chapter 1 so if you missed it, go back and take a look now.
Definitions
- Epidemiology: study of distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations. Another way to say this is that epidemiology is the study of the causes, distribution and control of diseases and injuries in a population.
- Epidemic: unexpectedly large number of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior or event, in a particular population
- Endemic: disease that occurs regularly in a population as a matter of course
- Pandemic: outbreak over wide geographic area (like, multiple continents)
To study and respond to epidemics, measurements of population health are necessary, to determine when a certain disease or other health problem is occurring in large numbers. In the next few pages, we examine some common health measurements and calculations.
Many parts of the public health infrastructure come into play when there is an epidemic of an infectious disease. Researchers, medical providers, outreach workers, communications specialists, environmental engineers and policy activists are all needed to respond to an epidemic. Some of the standard responses that public health officials often consider using to prevent spread of an infectious disease include the following:
- Isolation or quarantine of the infected persons
- Immunization to change the host's resistance to the infection
- Treatment of the infectious agent through antibiotics or other drugs
- Physical barriers between the microbe and the people (including condoms, mosquito nets, masks)
- Educating the public about how to protect themselves from infection and dispelling harmful myths
Questions to Think About:
- When you look back at the history of public health from Chapter 1, which of these practices are long-established and which ones are newer?
- How did you seen these responsibilities play out in the Covid-19 pandemic, in the US and elsewhere?
- How would you assess the importance of public health readiness -- being ready for the next epidemic before it arrives?
References
Seabert, D., McKenzie, J. F., & Pinger, R. R. (2021). McKenzie’s An Introduction to Community & Public Health. Jones & Bartlett Learning.