Communicable Disease Outbreak (Essay Sample)

Communicable Disease Outbreak
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Communicable disease outbreakIntroduction Communicable disease is an infectious disease usually transmitted by indirect or direct contact with affected person. Infectious disease outbreak is the occurrence of infectious disease cases on a greater scale than the expected at a particular time or in a given geographical area. There are numerous types of infectious diseases. However, this article will analyze malaria. Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted to people by female anopheles mosquito of Plasmodium species. Epidemiological determinant of malaria outbreak Transmission: A bite from female Anopheles mosquito infected with malarial parasites causes infection. Parasites are acquired by mosquitoes when they suck a person's blood. The parasite life cycle is about 35 days within a mosquito. The parasites become valid after this period when introduced in the body of a different person through a mosquito bite. Malaria infection as a result of transfusion of blood, congenitally or injuries that result from needle stick are very rare. Risk factors involved Risk factor refers to the factors that do not give rise to malaria infections but in some way are associated with it. Risks factors increase the chances of malaria infection but do not result in malaria infection. The risk factor absence does not prevent the spread of malaria. These factors include mosquito bites, transfusions, sharing of needles, mother-infant transmissions and international travel. Risk associated with blood transfusion; this process is giving someone blood that has been taken from someone else. Blood transfusion can be done to replace lost blood during surgery, accidents childbirth. It can also be done in the treatment blood inherited disorders like sickle cell anemia or thalassemia. In developed countries like USA, blood transfusion is often safe. However, in fewer developed countries blood transfusions are considered a risk factor. International travel of people from where there is an outbreak of malaria also poses as a risk factor Impact of malaria outbreak Malaria outbreak in the society causes an adverse effect on functioning of local government, schools hospital, and business sectors. These effects hinder the daily operations and activities based on the development of the society. These impacts can be grouped into three broad categories namely; economic, social and psychological effect. Social impact; The main social effect mainly occurs in children and the household female heads. It affects school activities when students are infected, and school activities are delayed a by illness of children, and this causes greater loss of time in schools (Webbe, 2009). School children school days due malaria infection Household female heads are significantly affected by a malaria outbreak as home activities get disrupted and delayed. Being family caretakers, female household heads role are suspended as a result of their illness and the illness of household members. Economic impact; Malaria outbreak increases government spending in an attempt to contain the spread of the disease. Government initiates programs and policies such as educational awareness within the population on the causes and preventive measures of the illness. Government expenditure is increased in such situation and result in economic strain and sudden shift in resources allocation due to unplanned expenditure. Malaria outbreak also increases government expenses on health care and development of malaria treatment that is cost-effective result to additional investment by the government in an attempt control the spread. Psychological effects; Malaria infection induce stress in patients that result in psychological effects. Lack of social support sources for household affected my malaria infection also lead to additional psychological effect. Most patients who suffer from malaria finally undergo mental effects and severe psychological torture. ...