A communicable disease is caused by some biological infectious products or agents that are toxic. The agents are either directly or even indirectly transmitted from any person or animal within the environment. Most of the diseases are spread through direct contacts or indirect contacts since the bacteria/virus that causes the disease is airborne (Chin, 2000). Examples of the communicable diseases are mumps, flu, whooping cough, measles, smallpox, cold, influenza, hepatitis type A and B.
1.1 Description of the disease
Hepatitis A is the contagious disease that I am researching. Describing Hepatitis A is that it is a contagious infection of the liver that emanates from the "Hepatitis A virus." The named virus is infectious such that its transmission is through the ingestion of both water and contaminated food. Also, the transfer would happen if one comes into contact with a person who has the virus. Another description of the disease is that many of the people, basically a higher population often recover from it with immunity of a lifetime/lifelong.
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1.2 Efforts to control Hepatitis A
The control efforts of Hepatitis A is the immunization efforts. Vaccination is pivotal in the comprehensive plan for viral hepatitis control. Economic evaluations should be involved in the proper immunization plans. Also, other alternative options need to be considered. Examples of such alternative options are health education, hygiene issues, and the sanitation considerations. The population of a particular region is a better consideration when performing immunizations. Intermediate endemicity-based countries would benefit highly due to the children being immunized at a universal context. The other countries have reduced endemicity. Thus, they should perform the vaccination to the adults who are at a high vulnerability of the virus hepatitis.
1.3 Environmental factors related to Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is anchored on environmental matters such as poor sanitation, unsafe food, and contaminated water. Also, it is evident that virus hepatitis can resist the production processes that are food-related. The processes are often used to control pathogens, yet the virus hepatitis withstands.
1.4 Explain the influence of lifestyles, socioeconomic status, and disease management.
Socioeconomic status and lifestyles are essential in the determination of the virus hepatitis. Both the socioeconomic status and lifestyle influence the disease prevalence. The scenario is authentic such that the better-off people in the population are less likely to be infected compared to the poor people. The lifestyle of the rich is not comparable to the have-nots. The wealthy who have access to improved sanitation, safe water, and non-contaminated food are less likely to have such cases. On the other hand, the poor are prone to Hepatitis A because they are poor hygienic, no safe water and may have contaminated food. Hence, disease management is directly proportional to the socioeconomic status and the population’s lifestyle.
1.5 Gaps
One of the most important gaps is the lack of organizations that are community-based. Such organizations would play a significant part in the execution of their duties and help to combat the communicable disease. The gap needs to be addressed to ensure the effectiveness of formal education delivery on how to deal with what affects the community. It is of great need for the connections towards achieving such goals of having community-based organizations. What one has to do to connect to such resources is to make use of the leaders to reach out to the charitable organizations. Such resources if available would serve the people infected and those not infected to know how to achieve a healthy society.
1.6 Recommendations to expand the community's programs
Charitable organizations should come to the aid of the ailing persons. The recommendation is primary to achieving the best empowerment and know how to counter the infectious diseases. Secondly, there should be awareness in the process of mobilizing resources and education on the prevention of any further transmissions. Also, recommendations like involving leaders would help in the creation of relevant treatment services and the policies required to have a healthy community.
1.7 Public Health Department’s Roles
Firstly, the PH department helps through the immunization processes. The department has cost-effective strategies in the vaccinations and their documentation. Also, the immunizations created by the department are affordable and at times free. Secondly, the PH department has helped in the screening strategies. The screening strategies help in the early treatment and therefore, infections are less likely to be transmitted to other persons. Thirdly, the PH department has to set the laws that individual liberty should be restricted to maintain low risks on the transmissions.
1.8 Data findings, evidence-based intervention, and action plan
WHO has provided the data on those infected with Hepatitis A and the expectations on the action plan. World Health Organization has said in “ Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, 2016-2021” that the action plan is envisioned in the sustainable goals. The action plan is to ensure that the infections of viral hepatitis are decreased by 90%. The action plan is aimed at reducing viral hepatitis' deaths by 65% if we reach 2030. The support from WHO includes the promotion of partnerships, treatment services and evidenced policy by 2030.
Reference
Chin, J. (2000). Control of communicable diseases manual.
Cuthbert, J. A. (2001). Hepatitis A: old and new. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 14(1), 38-58.
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-a
