Preparedness Webinar: Infectious Disease Considerations-Infectious Disease Considerations PPT

Infectious Disease Considerations PPT

Pdf Summary

The "Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response: Infectious Disease Considerations" webinar, presented by Dr. Rhonda Lizewski of the Navy Medical Research Command, focuses on infectious diseases that may arise during emergencies and natural disasters, detailing their management and prevention. The session emphasizes understanding factors such as the unique details of disasters (who, what, when, where, why), to prioritize public health responses effectively.<br /><br />Key objectives include analyzing disaster situations to determine infectious disease priorities, understanding the most common infectious causes of mortality, and applying SPHERE Guidelines to reduce risks during relief efforts. Important infectious diseases highlighted are diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, and malaria, with specifics on their causative agents, transmission, prevention, and management strategies.<br /><br />The webinar also explores various types of emergencies—natural hazards, technological disasters, and complex disasters—detailing the implications of each on infectious disease prevalence and control. It illustrates the role of environmental changes, disruption to healthcare infrastructures, and increased vector exposure as significant factors affecting the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in these situations.<br /><br />In the context of humanitarian assistance, the webinar differentiates between internal displacement and refugee crises, shedding light on the protections offered under international law and the heightened vulnerability of displaced populations. The discussion extends to technical standards, with a substantial focus on the SPHERE Handbook's guidelines for water supply, hygiene, sanitation, and shelter to mitigate disease risks.<br /><br />Lastly, it debunks myths about infectious disease transmission from corpses, citing minimal risk of transmission, except in the case of specific diseases like Ebola, emphasizing the importance of standard health precautions. The session underscores the necessity for ongoing discussions and continuous improvement to optimize disaster response and disease prevention strategies.

Keywords

Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Infectious Disease

Disaster Management

SPHERE Guidelines

Rhonda Lizewski

Navy Medical Research

Humanitarian Assistance

Disease Prevention

Emergency Response

Infectious Disease Transmission