Epidemiology Paper: Influenza Virus

Epidemiology Paper
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Institution
Epidemiology of Influenza
Infectious diseases occur due to virus or bacteria through contamination with a surface, fluids, air, and human contact. Moreover, these diseases are a primary cause of mortality and morbidity in disastrous circumstances. The risk of these diseases is measured by the demographic statistics of the population affected. However, besides the size of the people infected, the population's characteristics are also significant in determining the disease's severity. While some exist mildly, others could cause severe detrimental effects on human health. Several conditions fall under the category of infectious diseases. Examples of infectious diseases include; Measles, Polio, Hepatitis B, Ebola, Chickenpox, tuberculosis, and Influenza. However, the paper focuses on the Epidemiology of Influenza primarily caused by the virus.
Influenza, also called flu, Is a contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that infect the throat, nose, and lungs. There are four different influenza viruses: Influenza A, B,& C, depending on their nucleoproteins (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Furthermore, Influenza viruses are scientifically categorized in the family Orthomyxoviridae. Among them, influenza A and B are the most common viruses associated with seasonal epidemics. The disease is spread when a healthy individual inhales droplets from an infected person. Transmission could result from speaking, coughing, or sneezing.
Moreover, the period between exposure and the symptomatic stage ranges between one to four days. Some of these symptoms associated with Influenza include high body temperature, sore throat, cough, headache, tiredness, nausea, and diarrhea (predominantly common among children). However, if the virus attacks the stomach, an individual may experience gastrointestinal distress. Flu shares several similarities in symptoms with other viral or bacterial respiratory illnesses. However, there are medical tests available for diagnosing flu. Furthermore, the treatment of flu illness depends on administering influenza antiviral drugs. Also, there is a provision for an annual flu vaccine that has proven to reduce flu-related infections and flu complications that result in death.
The prevalence of Influenza was marked by the onset of the influenza A(H1N1) virus In 2009, which caused the first global flu pandemic. Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that, on average, 8% of the US population a diagnosed with the flu every season. Furthermore, children have been identified as the most vulnerable group, most likely to be infected by the virus. Moreover, adults above65 years of age, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions are also considered susceptible to the infection. Moreover, Influenza leads to an estimated 1/4 million deaths during periods of elevated infections referred to as flu seasons (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The high mortality rate associated with Influenza is due to the body's inability to receive sufficient oxygen due to the compromise on the lower respiratory system, which leads to death. Flu can be spread from one person to another for an individual is aware of the illness, and while they are sick. The contagiousness period varies depending on several factors; for instance, children and adults with weak immune systems could infect others for a longer. Influenza complications include bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections, and adverse chronic medical conditions such as heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Influenza is considered a reportable disease in the United States. Various states have laws and regulations governing the protocol of notifiable diseases. The responsibility of reporting influenza cases is undertaken by healthcare providers, schools, children institution laboratories, and non-governmental institutions. The nationally notifiable disease surveillance system NNDSS was established to facilitate the reporting of influenza outbreaks at the national level. The CDC plays a significant role In the investigation of an epidemic and enforcing containment measures.
Social determinants of health could be grouped into five broad categories: genetics, medical care, social factors, behavior, and environmental factors. However, the World Health Organization defines social determinants of health as conditions where people grow, work, live, age, and the broad set of systems. These systems are inclusive of economic and social policies and those that shape our lives and environment. There is sufficient evidence to acknowledge that social determinants of health significantly influence respiratory infections in the US. Specific social determinants such as education, social class, income, sex, race, and ethnicity determine health outcomes substantially. Since Influenza is contagious, the most appropriate way to control the disease is by seeking urgent medical attention. However, social determinants contribute to developing the disease since some people have limited access to healthcare services and influenza vaccinations.
Moreover, specific social policies may not favor individuals from underprivileged social classes. Workplace and school policies promoting health such as free vaccinations paid sick leave, and school closures may lead to the disease's development (Cordoba and Aiello 2016). Furthermore, disadvantaged neighborhoods experience poor outcomes due to low rates of influenza vaccination. Individuals from such communities are exposed to a high risk of developing comorbidities. Moreover, individuals from disadvantaged neighborhoods are also exposed to detrimental health behaviors that make them susceptible to the severity of Influenza. Most individuals from these neighborhoods may experience type 2 diabetes and asthma obesity, which have been linked to severe influence illness that causes high hospitalization rates and premature death in such communities.
The epidemiologic triangle is a model developed specifically for studying health problems. It provides information on all infectious diseases and how they are spread. Furthermore, the triangle consists of an agent, host, and environment. The agent, also referred to as a microbe, is responsible for causing the disease. The host or organism is the element holding the condition.
On the other hand, the environment is considered as the external factors that facilitate disease transmission. The epidemiologic triad for Influenza consists of susceptibility contagiousness and behavior as host. Simultaneously, the agents could be described as contagiousness, transferability, survivability, and infectivity. Moreover, the environment elements include host, transferability, survivability, host density, and surface area volume ratio. Depending on the scenario, modes of transmission vary insignificance (Spicknall, Koopman, Nicas, Pujol, Li & Eisenberg, 2010). For instance, special considerations could be Given to schools since children have been identified as vulnerable hosts. Furthermore, due to congestion, the rate of tr...