Overview of Outbreak Investigations

Question 1

“is a state of complete physical,
mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or
infirmity,” (WHO, 1995)

Answer 1

Health

Question 2

“is the science and art of preventing
disease, prolonging life, promoting health
and efficiency through organized
community effort for the sanitation of the
environment, control of communicable
diseases, the education of individuals in
personal hygiene,

Answer 2

PUBLIC HEALTH

Question 3

Evolution of Public Health
Late 19th Century:

Answer 3

Late 19th Century: a package of sanitary and industrial safety measures
Services:
-Assurance of safe water supply
-Sanitary disposal of waste
-Clearance of slums
-Improving the work environment and working conditions of industrial workers

Question 4

Evolution of Public Health
Late 20th Century:

Answer 4

Early 20th Century: inclusion of measures for
prevention of communicable diseases

Services:
-Immunization: cholera, smallpox, rabies, typhoid, anthrax,etc.
-Control of vectors and reservoirs of infection

Question 5

Evolution of Public Health
1920

Answer 5

1920: full spectrum of preventive and
promotive services were incorporated
Services:
-Maternal and child health
-Family planning
-School health
-Nutrition promotion
-Mental health
-Health education
*Primary health centers and subcenters were constructed to provide the health services mentioned.

Question 6

Evolution of Public Health
1960:

Answer 6

*Education of the public not to take risky lifestyles was included upon realization of the role of risk factors such as sociocultural and behavioral factors in the causation of non-communicable diseases particularly chronic degenerative disease like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancers, ulcerative colitis, etc.

Question 7

Evolution of Public Health
1981:

Answer 7

putting health care/services in the hands of every person regardless of nationality, caste, creed, educational status and economic stature in order for him/her to enjoy a level of health that would enable him/her to lead a socially and
economically productive life

Question 8

Terminologies Synonymous
with Public Health

Answer 8

-Hygiene
-Preventive Medicine
-Social Medicine
-Community Medicine
-Community Health

Question 9

Roles of Medical Technologists in Public
Health

Answer 9

-Health Programs/Projects Field Coordinator
-Health Programs/Projects Monitoring Officer
-Health Programs/Projects Evaluation Officer
-Field Epidemiologist (outbreak investigation; contact tracing;surveillance)
-Sanitary Inspector
-Quality Control/Assurance Officer for Pharmaceutical products, test kits/materials and
other biological agents
-Health Education and Promotion Officer
-Academician
-Researcher
-Clinical Laboratory Scientist in Public Health Lab
-Infection Control Officer

Question 10

Approaches in Public Health

Answer 10

-Biostatistics
-Epidemiology
-Health Policy
-Public Health Promotion and Education
-Microbiology
-Parasitology
-Nutrition
-Environmental and Occupational Health

Question 11

PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES

Answer 11

-Smoking
-Alcohol abuse
-Obesity
-Fish kil
-Plasitc pollution
-Overpopulation
-Mental health
-Pandemics