The Role of Public Health in the Prevention of

Infectious Diseases.

Public health measurestypically involves eliminating the pathogen from its reservoir or from it route of transmission

Safe WaterUS water used for

washing drinking, and preparing food is purified before it goes into homes to kill pathogens

Purified through settling, filtration, and chlorination

Sewage Treatment and Disposal

Sewage includes washwater, water from toilets, and storm run-off

These fluids carry pathogens for diseases such as hepatitis

US government mandatesThat sewage be treatedTo eliminate pathogens

Food SafetyUS has many

standards, inspection plans and regulations dealing with food preparation, handling, and distribution

Meat-packing facilities areinspected to detect diseasedanimals and ensure standards for meat cutting andrefrigeration are observedRestaurants and supermarkets are inspected

Milk is pasturized, dated forsale, and is analyzed for contamination

Animal Control Program

,

Animals carry many diseases that affect humans

Domestic herds are inspected for tuberculosis and brucellosis

Owners of pets must show proof of rabies vaccination.

Rabid animals must be destroyed

Animal Control ProgramsBubonic plague

is spread by rats so rat control in urban areas is a public health effort

Animal Control Program Insects carry many diseases suchas malariaNeed to eliminate insect breeding areas by 1. Draining areas where stagnant water collects 2. Using pesticides

Vaccination ProgramsVaccination

programs mandate that children be vaccinated prior to starting school

If a certain proportion of a population (treshold proportion) is immune to a disease, the pathogen that causes the disease will be unable to reproduce itself at a high enough level to maintain itself in the populationThis is called herd immunity and the pathogen could be eliminated from the population

Public Health Organizations

Enforce regulations

Provide public health services

Monitor and report incidence of Disases to state and federal agencies

National Institute of Health (NIH)

Is an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Supports health-related research aimed at preventing, treating, and controlling infectious diseases

Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

In Atlanta, GeorgiaInvestigates disease

outbreaks, publishes reports,

sponsors education

programs/ research, and reference labs

Food and Drug Administration(FDA)

Monitors safety of food, medicines and other products

World Health Organization (WHO)Provides

international surveillance

and control of disease

Coordinates multinational vaccination campaigns

The End