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Prevention of Influenza Epidemic 2012. Presentation to Cooinda Region Health Services Group 16.4 Renee Gill, Breanna Lee, Hilda Siow , Alison Mok , Isabelle Batty, Kyung Hee Kim (Deborah). Problems and Aims. PROBLEMS INFLENZA – a new strain of the virus is has developed
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Prevention of Influenza Epidemic 2012 Presentation to Cooinda Region Health Services Group 16.4 Renee Gill, Breanna Lee, Hilda Siow, Alison Mok, Isabelle Batty, Kyung Hee Kim (Deborah)
Problems and Aims • PROBLEMS • INFLENZA – a new strain of the virus is has developed • INFLUENZA has the potential to have high levels of fatality among those who are infected • We need to control the spread of the virus to reduce risk of outbreak • Epidemics may be controlled or prevented using public health interventions. • AIMS • Focus on influenza and its effects • Explain the history of Influenza • Explain the biological characteristics of the virus and the body’s defence to this. • Discuss the environmental factors contributing to the spread of the disease • Advise of the common vulnerable groups • Recommend strategies to reduce spread • Advise people of Cooinda Region Health Services of an outbreak management plan in case of an epidemic.
‘The Great Pandemic’ Past Pandemic • Belief that influenza was caused by bacteria rather than virus meant that there was no vaccine readily available. • Scientists and physicians did however understand the spread of influenza : Cover coughs and sneezes, face masks, no spitting. • Politicians and physicians believed the spread of the disease could be contained by quarantines and bans on public gatherings. Current practice • New knowledge = vaccine • Still encouraged to cough into elbow etc. • Analysis of how American cities responded to the influenza of 1918 suggests that limiting human interactions may have saved tens of thousands of lives. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/12/AR2006121201628.html) • http://1918.pandemicflu.gov/index.htm
Environmental Factors • Density and Increase in human population • Larger and denser populations provide for easier and quicker transmission. • Close proximity of animals • Humans are being exposed to a wide range of diseases and infections that are carried by domestic animals • Human effects on the ecosystem • The ecosystem acts as a barrier for diseases between humans, animals and plants. The alteration of these ecosystems allows diseases to spread between the three categories. • As applicable to the Cooinda community: • ‘Recently there has been a growth in population due to an increase in babies born and additional migrants moving to the area.’ (From Cooinda community profile) • As applicable to the Cooinda community: • ‘Major features of Cooinda include … the Cooinda Live Stock Exchange, • Employment opportunities within Cooinda and the central lakes district exist in… agriculture.’ (From Cooinda community profile) • As applicable to the Cooinda community: • ‘Rural land is used mainly for diary, market gardens, forest plantations and mixed farming.’ (From Cooinda community profile)