Preparedness Webinar: Infectious Disease Considerations-Infectious Disease Considerations

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The National Education Curriculum for Preventive Medicine Residents in Emergency Preparedness and Response concluded its 12th and final webinar, featuring Dr. Rhonda Liszewski. As a Navy preventive medicine physician, Dr. Liszewski shared her expertise on public health emergency preparedness, offering insights from her diverse experiences in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.<br /><br />During the session, she highlighted the importance of understanding the unique details of emergencies that affect disease considerations from a public health perspective. Emphasizing an all-hazards approach, Dr. Liszewski discussed the analysis of the five W's—who, what, when, where, and why—in disaster scenarios to prioritize infectious disease concerns. Key topics included a comparison between humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and an exploration of the top causes of mortality during acute humanitarian crises, namely diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, and malaria.<br /><br />Dr. Liszewski also addressed other infectious diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, and vector-borne diseases such as dengue. She underscored the challenges of managing outbreaks, particularly in situations with disrupted healthcare infrastructure and mass displacement. <br /><br />The webinar offered practical guidance on using protocols, like the SPHERE guidelines, to manage infectious risks and discussed myths around infectious diseases in corpses. Overall, the session aimed to arm preventive medicine residents with the knowledge to effectively respond to public health emergencies. The audience was encouraged to continue discussions on these critical topics within forums like ACPM Pulse.

Keywords

Preventive Medicine

Emergency Preparedness

Public Health

Disaster Relief

Infectious Diseases

Humanitarian Assistance

SPHERE Guidelines

Outbreak Management

Healthcare Infrastructure

ACPM Pulse