PH1: VPH Intro Flashcards
Define VPH.
Veterinary public health is the sum of all contribution to the physical,mentall, and social well-being of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science.
IT IS NOT ONLY MEAT HYGIENE AND NOT ONLY ZOONOSES
Define zoonoses.
Disease and infection which are transmitted naturally between vertebrate animals and men
What are complications zoonoses on public health? (Why do we care about VPH with regards to zoonoses?)
- Potential to spread by various means over long distances - potentially globally
- Prevent the efficient production of food of animal origin - particularly much needed proteins
- Obstacles to international trade ($$$$)
- Impede socio-economic development
- Economic consequences
Define DALY. What does it quantify?
Disability Adjusted Life Year
It quantifies disease burden. It is calculated by adding the number of years of life lost to mortality (YLL) and the number of years lived with disability due to morbidity (YLD)
DALY = YLL + YLD
How is the burden of disease measured?
The burden of disease is not only measured by how many people are dying but also by how many people will develop a chronic disease/disability by acquiring this disease.
DALY = YLL + YLD
Burden of Disease = Loss of Life + (Possibility of being left with disability + Possibility of Death)
How is YLL calculated?
The summation of all fatal cases due to that specific disease, each case multiplied by the expected individual life span at the age of death.
How is YLD calculated?
The production of the number of cases, the duration of illness, and the severity weight of a specific disease
What is the main limitation to using DALY to determine disease burden?
DALYs do not quantify the full societal impact of foodborne diseases.
The economic burden (cost of illness, losses in the agricultural and food sectors and trade impacts) is also an important factor to consider in national and international decision making.
Additionally: those who survive may suffer from delayed physical and mental development, depriving them of the opportunity to reach their full potential in society.
Name some factors affecting the spread of foodborne diseases.
Intensive farming: easy spread of pathogens + spillover from wilderness
Climate change: vectors, natural toxins, etc.
Describe the “farm to fork” approach to VPH.
The biological and chemical agents which cause food poisoning accompany the animal from farm to fork. As such, everyone has a role to play to ensure safety and quality (farmers, vets, consumers).
Additionally, if contamination is high at the beginning (farm), it can only increase as you go through the food chain
