Managing outbreaks

Question 1

Define ecological footprint:

Answer 1

the speed at which we consume resources and produce waste compared to the speed at which nature can absorb the waste and reproduce new resources

Question 2

Define control (in relation to outbreaks):

Answer 2

the reduction of disease incidence, prevalence, mortality or morbidity to a locally acceptable level

Question 3

Define elimination (In relation to outbreaks):

Answer 3

reduction to zero incidence of infection in a defined geographical area

Question 4

Define eradication (in relation to outbreaks):

Answer 4

permanent reduction to zero of the world wide incidence of infection

Question 5

Define notifiable disease:

Answer 5

any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities (they are deemed to have significant public health importance where identification of potential outbreaks is essential)

Question 6

Give 4 examples of notifiable diseases:

Answer 6

1) cholera

2) rabies

3) TB

4) meningococcal septicaemia

Question 7

Define herd immunity:

Answer 7

when a sufficiently high proportion of the population is immune against a disease so that the disease is unable to spread

Question 8

Define quarantine:

Answer 8

separates people and restricts their movement if they were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick

Question 9

Define isolation:

Answer 9

separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick

Question 10

How long does a quarantine typically last?

Answer 10

14 days

Question 11

How does does an isolation period typically last?

Answer 11

7 days

Question 12

Define endemic:

Answer 12

a constant presence or usual prevalence of a disease within a geographic area

Question 13

Define cluster:

Answer 13

a group of cases in a defined place or time that are suspected to be greater than normally expected

Question 14

Define outbreak:

Answer 14

two or more linked cases of a disease or more cases than would normally be expected in a given population

Question 15

Define epidermic:

Answer 15

more cases than would be expected in a given area among a specific group of people over a particular period of time

Question 16

Define pandemic:

Answer 16

an epidemic that has spread to affect several countries over a large geographic region

Question 17

What does the ‘R’ number of infection spread tell us?

Answer 17

the average number of secondary cases caused by a single infected case

Question 18

Define secondary attack rate?

Answer 18

the proportion of those who have been exposed to the primary/ index case and developed the disease as a result of exposure

Question 19

Give the 5 stages used in outbreak management:

Answer 19

1) epidemic preparedness

2) outbreak investigation

3) case definition

4) implement control measures

5) post-outbreak evaluation

Question 20

Name the 5 WHO guidelines for national outbreak communcation:

Answer 20

1) trust

2) transparency

3) knowing your public

4) planning

5) announcing early