order to prevent epidemics, mass vaccination campaigns, particularly for In measles, must be carried out early in the crisis.
Robust and sensitive surveillance systems must be implemented, and protocols for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of potentially epidemic diseases must be widely available.
Laboratories to identify potentially epidemic diseases must be identified early, and adequate medications and medical supplies must be readily available. Refer to Communicable Disease Control in Emergencies: A Field Manual by the WHO for further guidance.
The objective of communicable disease control is ultimately to stop transmission of the causative agent so that no new individuals will get infected and be at risk of developing the disease.
Page | 45
The disease may be prevented by preventing transmission or by preventing an infected person from developing the disease (e.g., through vaccination). In some diseases, such as leprosy, HIV, or typhoid, it may be very difficult to prevent transmission, because people may be asymptomatic carriers who are unaware that they are infected and infectious to others.
People can reduce their risk of contracting or transmitting disease-causing pathogens by following the steps below:
washing their hands thoroughly and regularly
disinfecting surfaces at home often, especially doorknobs and food areas disinfecting personal items such as phones
cooking meats, eggs, and other foods thoroughly
practicing good hygiene when preparing and handling food avoiding eating spoiled food
avoiding touching wild animals receiving available vaccinations
taking antimalarial medications when traveling where there is a malaria risk
check for ticks and other parasites.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
These include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, which are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide. More than three-quarters of all NCD deaths, and 86% of the 17 million people who died prematurely, or before reaching 70 years of age, occur in low- and middle-income countries.
NCDs share four major risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diets.
The epidemic of NCDs poses devastating health consequences for individuals, families, and communities, and threatens to overwhelm health systems. The socioeconomic costs associated with NCDs make the prevention and control of these diseases a major development imperative for the 21st century.