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Introduction
The past years have been characterized by spontaneous outbreaks of various illnesses within a particular geographical location or community. Multiple factors contribute to these outbreaks, for instance, different environmental and travel patterns, population density, and human activities. Most of these outbreaks are due to multiple causative organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In outbreaks, the number of affected people or reported cases usually exceed the normally expected. Whenever they occur, most outbreaks are associated with an increased and widespread transmission with poor control, which can subsequently result in increased health impacts of the disease and economic effects (Shen et al., 2020). Most of these outbreaks are regarded as disasters, and one of the critical measures in containing such outbreaks is adequate preparedness, which includes equipping healthcare facilities with human resources and equipment to handle these cases when they arise. This will help in the proper identification and isolation of affected individuals, contact tracing to find exposed individuals and isolate them as well, and to manage critical conditions which may present at the hospitals and subsequently reducing the deaths and other adverse impacts associated with the outbreak (Shen et al., 2020). This paper presents a recent community outbreak within my local region, New York.
Selected Communicable Disease
The selected communicable disease is the respiratory syndrome coronavirus, commonly referred to as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Description of the Regional Outbreak
As aforementioned, the disease outbreak involved a respiratory syndrome coronavirus, commonly referred to as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The focus of the outbreak is in New York, which is in CDC Region A, among six other states. The first case of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and continued to spread to other parts of the world until March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic (Wu et al., 2020). The outbreak was first discovered in the CDC region A on March 1, 2020, in a 39-year-old health worker who returned from Iran in February.
All the other CDC regions, including all states, and other countries outside the United States, were affected by the outbreak, which led to it being declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The outbreak suddenly halted various activities globally, including losing many lives (Wu et al., 2020). The global effects of the outbreak are still being felt. Most countries have softened the stringent measures they had implemented initially to help curb the pandemic, primarily due to the widespread vaccination, which has reduced the transmission rates and the adverse complications of possible death from the disease.
Epidemiological Determinants and Risk Factors
Risk Factors
There are various risk factors associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. These factors increased the spread of the virus, resulting in an increased risk of developing complications and dying from the virus infection. The risk factors can be divided into the environment and host factors. One of the environmental factors is overcrowding, either due to overpopulated areas, social gatherings, and public transportation (Rashedi et al., 2020). Due to the virus’s transmission route, being in close contact with an infected individual, specifically those who are symptomatic, can increase the risk of transmission to other uninfected individuals. Being in social gatherings limits social distances, and thus more individuals are likely to get exposed and infected by the virus (Rashedi et al., 2020). These individuals will also interact with others back at home with their families, further spreading the virus and enhancing its transmission. This contributes to the outbreak and even makes controlling the virus difficult.
The second risk factor falls under host factors, which include poor hygiene and the individual’s immune status. The virus is mainly spread when one comes into contact with contaminated surfaces. These could be through the hands and using the same hands to touch the eye, nose, mouth, or food without thoroughly washing their hands with soap and running water (Rashedi et al., 2020). Such individuals are, therefore, also likely to get infected, which can further spread to individuals who come into close contact with them or other contaminated surfaces. Hygienic practices also help prevent spread, specifically when sneezing or coughing. Failure to observe the hygienic measures set in place, such as coughing at the elbow or sneezing on a handkerchief, can release the infected droplets into the air (Rashedi et al., 2020). When in an enclosed room or within a public space, the viruses can easily infect other healthy individuals and further spread, increasing the outbreak.
The immune status of the infected individual also contributes to the outbreak. Individuals with preexisting health conditions such as diabetes or other chronic conditions, as well as those who are immunosuppressed, such as cancer patients and those receiving chemotherapy, are at higher risk of getting infected and developing severe diseases which can be life-threatening (Rashedi et al., 2020). This can also increase the spread and transmission of the disease, given that they fail to heal once infected like other healthy individuals. Thus, they can easily spread the disease to others around them, for instance, the caregivers and the healthcare providers attending to their healthcare needs. Understanding the various risk factors is critical in developing interventions and measures that help address these factors and minimize transmission rates, which helps control the spread of the virus and the adverse impacts of the outbreak (Rashedi et al., 2020).
Routes of Transmission
Various routes of transmission of COVID-19 have been identified. However, the primary transmission mode is respiratory droplets released into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. Once released into the environment, these infected droplets can be inhaled by another uninfected person nearby, where they become infected. The infected droplets can also land on various surfaces, where they can stay for a significant duration (Shi et al., 2020). They contaminate these surfaces, and if an uninfected person comes to contact with these surfaces and touches their mucous membrane, such as the eye, nose, or mouth, without washing their hands with soap and water or sanitizing the hands, the virus gains access into the person’s body, causing the disease.
The other possible modes of transmission of the virus include direct contact with an infected person, for instance, through shaking hands, hugging, or kissing (Shi et al., 2020). There is also the airborne transmission, where the virus is transmitted through the air in rooms with poor ventilation, for instance, in medical procedures which generate aerosols. The last and one of the least likely routes of virus transmission is through the fecal-oral route, mainly seen in overcrowded areas with poor sanitation and inadequate sewage treatment (Shi et al., 2020). The modes of transmission are, however, dependent on various factors, such as the duration of contact with the infected person and if the uninfected person had masks or other forms of personal protective equipment. Determining the various transmission routes is also crucial when implementing disease prevention strategies, as measures can be tailored to address the identified transmission routes.
Epidemiological Determinants
There are several epidemiological determinants related to the COVID-19 outbreak. One of the epidemiological determinants is the susceptibility of the host. As previously highlighted, certain groups of individuals, such as those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or immunosuppression due to cancer and cancer treatment, are more predisposed to getting infected by the virus than healthy individuals (Rashedi et al., 2020). Once infected, these individuals can also contribute to spreading the virus. The other epidemiological determinant related to the COVID-19 outbreak is implementing public health measures, such as social distancing, vaccination, and wearing masks, which can also help reduce the spread of the virus (Rashedi et al., 2020).
Other possible epidemiological determinants include viral shedding and the incubation period, which can last up to 14 days, implying that infected individuals can spread the virus unknowingly, as they do not show any symptoms. Lastly, the mode of transmission of the virus is another epidemiological determinant related to the outbreak since prolonged and close contact with infected individuals and contaminated surfaces can contribute to the spread of the virus (Rashedi et al., 2020).
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Community Impact
The COVID-19 outbreak came with significant community impacts, both at an individual level and at a system level, with some of these impacts still to date. Some of the system levels within the community which have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak include; the healthcare system, the economic system, the education system, the political system, and the social system. The healthcare system can be considered one system significantly impacted by the outbreak (Singh & Singh, 2020). As the volume of patients requiring medical attention due to COVID-19 increased, there was growing pressure on the medical facilities as they tried to cope with the high volume and provide care to all the patients. Demand for healthcare workers resulted in a resultant increase, with most facilities running out of crucial medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
The outbreak has also had devastating impacts on the economic system, as most businesses closed down, many individuals lost their jobs, and there was a marked reduction in productivity due to remote working during the outbreak (Singh & Singh, 2020). Many individuals experienced financial challenges during the outbreak, and most world economies dropped. This has increased poverty levels across many countries and mental health issues among individuals going through hardships. The outbreak has also affected the education system, as most universities and schools had to close down, with most of them settling on online and remote learning. This has significantly affected the student’s education and social development and increased mental health conditions among students (Singh & Singh, 2020).
The political system has also been affected, with most governments across the globe having to struggle to respond to the outbreak effectively. This has resulted in polarization, division, and increased criticism of various governments, as citizens blame the government for some of the mishappenings, while some governments as well take advantage of the outbreak as an excuse for their poor performance and poor service delivery to its citizens (Singh & Singh, 2020). Lastly, the social system has also been affected by the outbreak due to the restrictions imposed on various social and interactive activities to curb the transmission of the virus. These include restrictions on social gatherings, traveling, and other social activities such as sports and entertainment (Singh & Singh, 2020). This has resulted in increased incidences of loneliness, as well as mental health issues such as depression during the period of the outbreak.
Global Comparison
The COVID-19 outbreak affected all countries on the globe. Although there were commonalities regarding the impacts of the outbreak across different countries, there existed some differences, especially on the extent of these impacts, such as the total number of deaths as well as at the systems levels varied from one country to another, due to various factors including the rate of transmission reported in that specific country. As aforementioned, the multiple stems affected by the outbreak included the education, healthcare, political, social, and economic systems. However, this was to some degree in certain countries, for instance, Canada. Regarding the healthcare system, the outbreak exposed the gaps within the US healthcare system, especially the health disparities affecting people of color.
The healthcare system was overwhelmed due to the influx of patients, which was not the case in Canada, which had a robust health system that could mitigate the virus (Béland et al., 2021). The US economy was also significantly impacted by the outbreak, which was not the case in Canada as they were not hit as hard. The Canadian government had strategies in place, which included financial support to individuals and companies affected by the pandemic and the government’s quick response to the outbreak, which reduced the possible adverse impacts it could have heard on its economy. Both countries’ education systems were hit hard, with schools and universities closing during that period (Béland et al., 2021). However, the Canadian government provided resources that enhanced the transition into remote learning, such as providing technology to improve continuity in education.
Lastly, the social system of both countries was affected, with the restrictions on traveling and social gatherings being significant hindrances to human interactions and socialization. However, it was not as prolonged in Canada as in the United States, given the quick response that the Canadian government through the healthcare system had in place to mitigate the issue (Béland et al., 2021). The Canadian robust infrastructural and universal healthcare systems played a crucial role in handling the outbreak. The United States healthcare system struggled with the influx of patients into the healthcare facilities and protecting its vulnerable population. However, both countries provided financial support to help individuals the outbreak had impacted.
Reporting Protocol
Reporting all cases of COVID-19 is an ongoing process, even two years after the pandemic. This helps observe the trend and predict a possible surge in the near future for proper response. The reporting is a system and involves a reporting protocol that ensures appropriate steps and guidelines are followed while reporting. The protocol includes; reporting all cases of COVID-19 to the state health departments by the local health departments while following state-specific reporting requirements (Moorthy et al., 2020). The state health departments then regularly report all the confirmed COVID-19 cases to the CDC, following the CDC reporting guidelines. The confirmed cases are reported using the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which in addition to reporting, also helps in analyzing and tracking notifiable disease data (Moorthy et al., 2020).
Some of the data elements the CDC recommends to the state health departments include; the patient’s demographic, clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological information. In addition, the CDC requires the states to compile reports related to COVID-19 hospitalizations, testing, and mortalities (Moorthy et al., 2020). There is also the need for collaboration among CDC, state, and local health departments to help in contact tracing, outbreak investigations, and public health interventions. Of note is the importance of state health departments maintaining patient confidentiality while reporting these cases, even during COVID-19.
Prevention Strategies
COVID-19 outbreak can be reverted by implementing effective measures that will help limit its transmission and spread. Some COVID-19 outbreak prevention strategies include; vaccination through various available vaccines (Güner et al., 2020). This strategy is recommended because most of these vaccines are effective since they help prevent severe illness and the need for hospitalization and reduce the transmission of the virus. The more people are vaccinated, the more protected they are, including the few who are not vaccinated through herd immunity. Vaccination is an effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the outbreak (Güner et al., 2020). The other strategy is avoiding crowded places through social distancing and using a mask when going out to public and overcrowded areas (Güner et al., 2020). Observing these measures limits the spread of the virus, thus preventing an outbreak that can occur due to increased transmission. These measures, among other measures such as maintaining hygiene through regular washing of hands with water and soap, isolating oneself while sick, and following the public health measures and guidelines, can help prevent the spread of the virus and the subsequent impacts (Güner et al., 2020).
Conclusion
Community outbreaks, whenever they occur, are associated with devastating impacts, including loss of lives. The most recent COVID-19 outbreak brought the world to a standstill, with most of its impacts still being felt across different countries. The first outbreak was discovered I March 1, 2020, in CDC region A. there are various risk factors associated with this outbreak, including overcrowding and failure to observe the public health measures. The COVID-19 outbreak had adverse community impacts, affecting individual and system levels such as schools, healthcare, social, economic, and political systems. Although all counties across the globe were affected, some countries were more affected than others, possibly due to preparedness and other epidemiological determinants of the virus. Implementing appropriate prevention strategies such as vaccination, regular hand washing, and avoiding overcrowding are some of the critical measures that can be put in place to limit the spread, transmission, and subsequent outbreak of the virus.
References
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