INFECTIOUS DISEASE


*                   It has become pertinent for public health to remain focused on infectious disease rather chronic disease in this day and age because of the erroneous declaration of the death of infectious disease. This assertion emanates from the challenge posed by the resurgence of infectious disease and appearance of AIDS, in particular, in the early 1980s (Schneider, 2011). Combating the re-emergence of infectious disease became highly important for public health to re-channel their efforts at containing this sudden appearance of AIDS, Ebola, and West Nile and re-appearance of infectious diseases.

*                   The mode of transmission of these infectious diseases equally highlights the essence of public health’s need to re-focus attention. In so doing, a better understanding of means and methods of proffering solutions remains important. Testing and screening of disease victims is important in the fight against HIV (Schneider, 2011). The fact that transmission pathways differ from country to country and population to population presents another major reason public health should stay focused on infectious disease. As Schneider (2011) opined, “homosexual relations between men are still the leading route of exposure for men in the Unites States (p 153). But in the continents of Asia and Africa, “heterosexual relations are the most common means of transmission.” (p153).

*                   Schneider (2011) states that the American public health has taken major strides in designing ways and means of combating and fighting the 1980s complacency as regards infectious disease. With focus on the diseases and infectious agents transmitted from animals to humans, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has done several studies addressing the several factors affecting the emergence and resurgence of this infectious disease. According to Schneider (2011), “global surveillance for infectious diseases is critically important for identifying potential epidemics early enough to bring them under control.” (p 170). In this surveillance direction, organizations like the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global agencies are in collaboration to counteracting complacency regarding the ravaging nature of these infectious diseases. Furthermore, public health has increased efforts in counteracting the premature announcement of the death of infectious disease by minimizing the inappropriate use of antibiotics.


Reference

Schneider, M. (2011). Introduction to public health (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

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