# Presentation: 912642

## Communicable DiseaseEpidemics

- Dr. Jacqueline Dougé
- Deputy Health Officer
- Frederick County Health Department

## What is an epidemic?

- A rapidly spreading outbreak of a contagious disease.  An event that affects many individuals throughout an area at the same time.

## Epidemics have occurred through out history

- There are accounts of epidemics from biblical times – and epidemics continue to plague the world – especially underdeveloped countries.

## Some epidemics commonly occur each year.

- Common epidemics include illnesses like influenza.

## Rare epidemics have also occurred through out the years.

- Some of these rare epidemics include illnesses that we now have vaccines to prevent.

## Examples of epidemics

- Polio – 1916, 1949, 1952
- Spanish Influenza – 1918
- Plague
- Measles
- Smallpox
- AIDS
- Influenza - annual
- SARS

## The start of an epidemic

- Disease is spread in two ways
- Insect/organism to human contact
- Avian Influenza
- Plague
- Lyme Disease
- West Nile Virus
- Human to human contact
- Influenza
- Measles
- AIDS
- Smallpox

## Preventing a epidemic

- Break the insect/organism spread to humans
- Decrease or eliminate fleas that carry plague
- Avoid contact with sick birds/poultry
- Eliminate mosquitoes
- Prevent contact with tics
- Break the human to human transmission
- Avoid contact with sick persons – Social distancing
- Hand washing
- Cough Etiquette (Show video)
- Immunizations

## Social Distancing

- Stay home when you don’t feel well.
- This prevents spreading germs to others.
- Avoid social gatherings such as
- School
- Church
- Parties
- Any place where you will be in close contact with others

## Hand washing

- Wash your hands often
- Single most important way to prevent the spread of germs
- Warm running water and soap
- This is definitely important if hands are visibly soiled
- Wash for 20 seconds
- Sing the “Happy Birthday” song 2 times
- Hand sanitizers
- Not a substitute for washing hands

## Cough Etiquette

- Cover you nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing
- Wash hands
- Do it in your sleeve
- Fabric captures the germs and they die there
- Video – “Why Don’t We Do It In Our Sleeves”
- Teach your children

## Immunizations

- Be sure you and your children have your vaccinations up-to-date
- Annual vaccination – influenza
- Injectable
- 6 months of age and older
- Intranasal – FluMist
- 2-49 years of age
- Good health
- Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the flu season

## Available immunizations

- Measles, Mumps & Rubella
- Polio
- Pertussis
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Smallpox
- Pneumonia
- Influenza

## What’s in the news

- MRSA
- Hospital acquired
- Hospitalized individuals are exposed during hospitalization
- Many develop while hospitalized
- May develop shortly after hospital discharge
- Community acquired
- Infection is not associated with a hospitalization

## Preventing MRSA

- Hospital acquired
- Hospitals are routinely culturing certain patients
- Self-advocate
- Hand washing
- Standard precautions
- Contact precautions

## Preventing MRSA

- Community acquired
- Good hygiene
- Cleaning of personal & shared equipment
- Keep lesions covered until healed
- Hand washing
- Environmental cleaning

## QUESTIONS???

## For further information

- _[www.co.](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)__[frederick](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)__[.](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)__[md](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)__[.us/](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)__[healthdept](http://www.co.frederick.md.us/healthdept)_
- _[www.cdc.gov](http://www.cdc.gov/)_