Measles Outbreak

A. Measles Outbreak USA to Philipines

B. DESCRIPTION OF OUTBREAK. You will describe one specific outbreak of a disease selected from the task directions. Identify the outbreak spread from one country to another (from Country A to Country B), do not address the entire pandemic or epidemic spread between countries, focus on the outbreak between two countries.

Including each of the following requirements from the task directions:

name of the disease

the countries involved (link the outbreak from Country A to Country B)

the date the outbreak was discovered (month and year)

the dates the disease reached each involved country (month and year)

A general example of a specific outbreak is the 2014 Ohio Amish measles outbreak brought to the United States from the Philippines. (you can use this too).

Once an outbreak is identified you can do a search with Google or Google Scholar for information required in this section. Use a reputable source, not Wikipedia.

B1. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS AND RISK FACTORS. What are epidemiological determinants related to the identified outbreak? A determinant is anything that increases disease frequency in a population.

Analyze the epidemiological determinants of the specific outbreak. What is indicator? Was it related to lack of immunizations, travel outside the US, etc.? Why is it important? What does it tell us? Risk Factors and Transmission are both epidemiological determinants. However, you should discuss other determinants relevant for your outbreak here such as infectivity (how easily spread is it?), virulence (how deadly is it?), mode of transmission (Vector? Contact? Aerosol?), climate considerations (i.e. does the vector survive arid or cold temperatures?), antigenic stability (i.e. Influenza) and any other appropriate variable.

Discuss any RISK FACTORS involved. Risk factors typically address the condition of the host (patient) and environment. Examples of risk factors could be age, occupation, immune-compromised status, unvaccinated status, lack of prior exposure to the disease, smoking, living in close quarters (i.e. military, prisons, and college dormitories), vector exposure, etc.

B2. ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION. Discuss the route of transmission of the selected disease. How was the disease was spread geographically? Was air travel to blame? Migration? More local travel? Other? And then explain where it went over time.

B3. IMPACT ON COMMUNITY. This is a hypothetical situation (your thoughts and opinions) of a what would happen at a systems level if the disease outbreak, worst case scenario, occurred in your community. How do you see it affect the community, assume the worst-case scenario (include the functioning of schools, local government, businesses, hospitals)?

For example, predict the effect of an outbreak on the FUNCTIONING of your city/county. You will want to address additional things like hospital overflow, transportation issues, economic productivity, etc. The evaluator is looking for a logical discussion including what would be the effect on schools (would they need to close)? Would government offices need to close, etc.? Would the hospitals have the staff to care for an outbreak? Could they handle the individuals coming to the clinics or put others at risk? Would it burden or overtax the health system of the community, etc.?

B4. REPORTING PROTOCOL. Explain the REPORTING PROTOCOL if an outbreak of the selected disease were to occur in your community. Often there is state legislation dictating the reporting protocol (chain of command) related of communicable disease. You can Google the reporting protocol for your area and should find the chain of command. Also, what is the reporting protocol/chain of command at the facility you work at? This could provide the information needed to identify how to report a communicable disease.

This task tip may help, as a community health nurse, who would you report a new case to? What does your Public Health Department, local and state level, indicate for reporting communicable disease? Think about who should be notified and how? As stated above your state legislature should have laws for the reporting of communicable diseases when suspected or actual.

B5. PREVENTION STRATEGIES. Discuss two strategies (e.g., patient education strategies, community education strategies) that you would recommend preventing an outbreak of the selected disease in your community. Provide a discussion with explanation on how the strategies would prevent an outbreak. Why do you recommend these as prevention strategies?

Perhaps avoiding the vectors, staying home when feeling ill, hand washing, covering mouth and nose when sneezing, information on vaccinations, and /or perhaps wearing a mask. Immunization clinics and/or incorporation of seasonal influenza vaccination movements at different levels, especially those who are at high risk. Does the community have a sufficient supply of anti-viral mediations, what could be used to treat the outbreak? Provide a discussion with explanation on how the strategies would prevent an outbreak. Why do you recommend these as prevention strategies?

D. SOURCES. This section will depend on resources used.

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