Communicable Disease And Infectious Disease Read Chapter 25

Communicable Disease And Infectious Diseaseread Chapter 25 Of The Clas

Read chapter 25 of the class textbook and review the attached PowerPoint presentation; once done write an 800 words essay on one of the news or recurrent infectious/communicable disease that has emerged in the last ten 10 years. The essay must address the following points:

1. Definition of Communicable and Infectious disease and the condition choose.

2. The principles related to the occurrence and transmission of the identified communicable infection and/or infectious disease.

3. Describe and discuss the three focus areas in Healthy People 2020 objectives that apply to the communicable and/or infectious disease chosen.

4. Describe and discuss the epidemiological aspects of the chosen communicable and/or infectious disease.

(Points mentioned above are some of the points that must be included in the essay). As stated in the syllabus present your assignment in an APA format word document, Arial 12 font attached to the forum in the discussion tab of the blackboard titled “Week 5 essay” and the SafeAssign exercise in the assignment tab of the blackboard. If you don't post your assignment in any of the required forums you will not get the points. A minimum of 3 evidence-based references besides the class textbook no older than 5 years must be used. You must post two replies to any of your peers sustained with the proper references no older than 5 years as well and make sure the references are properly quoted in your assignment.

A minimum of 800 words is required. Please make sure to follow the instructions as given and use either spell-check or Grammarly before you post your assignment. Please check your assignment after the week is due because I either made comments or ask for clarification in some statements. As you can see, I’m giving you an extra today days to present the assignment this due to the complexity of the assignment and must reflect what is happening worldwide. Links; If you have any questions, please contact me via FNU email.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In recent years, infectious diseases have continued to pose significant threats to global health, evidenced by the emergence and re-emergence of various pathogens. Among these, the COVID-19 pandemic stands out as a recent, impactful example, illustrating the dynamics of communicable diseases within the modern world. This essay explores the COVID-19 disease, providing comprehensive insights into its definition, principles of transmission, alignment with Healthy People 2020 objectives, and epidemiological characteristics.

Definition of Communicable and Infectious Diseases

Communicable diseases are illnesses caused by infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites, that can be transmitted from one individual to another. Infectious diseases, a broader term, refer to illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms that invade the host's body, resulting in disease. The primary difference lies in transmission—while all communicable diseases are infectious, not all infectious diseases are necessarily communicable (Morse, 2012). For instance, certain infections like tetanus are infectious but not transmitted from person to person. COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, exemplifies a highly contagious communicable disease that has affected millions worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020).

Principles of Occurrence and Transmission

The emergence of COVID-19 highlights several principles related to infectious disease transmission. The virus primarily spreads through respiratory droplets expelled when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or talk. Fomite transmission via contaminated surfaces is also possible, although less common (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). The basic reproductive number (R0) for COVID-19 has been estimated between 2 and 3, indicating that each infected person could transmit the virus to two or three others in a susceptible population. This underpins the importance of preventive measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene.

Healthy People 2020 Focus Areas

The Healthy People 2020 initiative aimed to reduce infectious disease burden globally. Three focus areas relevant to COVID-19 include:

1. Immunization and Infectious Disease Control: Emphasizing vaccination programs for preventable diseases, which is pivotal for mitigating secondary infections and reducing disease spread.
2. Respiratory Diseases: Focused on decreasing incidence and mortality from respiratory pathogens such as influenza and pneumonia, closely related to respiratory virus transmission like SARS-CoV-2.
3. Infection Control in Healthcare Settings: Implementing practices to prevent healthcare-associated infections, critical during a pandemic to protect healthcare workers and patients.

Epidemiological Aspects

The epidemiology of COVID-19 involves tracking its pattern, causes, and effects in populations. It exhibits a global distribution with varying incidence and prevalence rates reflecting differences in testing, healthcare infrastructure, and public health measures (Dong et al., 2020). The incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 days, with asymptomatic carriers contributing to silent transmission. Vulnerable populations include the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Mortality rates vary globally but tend to be higher among older adults and marginalized communities (WHO, 2020).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of understanding infectious disease dynamics, implementing effective prevention strategies, and investing in public health infrastructure. The disease exemplifies how rapidly an infectious agent can invade global communities, emphasizing the need for preparedness, vaccination efforts, and community engagement to mitigate future outbreaks.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). How COVID-19 spreads. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
• Dong, E., Du, H., & Gardner, L. (2020). An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(5), 533-534.
• Morse, S. S. (2012). Public health surveillance and infectious disease surveillance. Epidemiology and Infection, 140(4), 666-672.
• World Health Organization. (2020). coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019