Global Infectious Disease Control

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Global Infectious Disease Control - Germ Warfare HQ

  • Key Players:
    • World Health Organization (WHO): Global coordination, surveillance (e.g., Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System - GISRS).
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): US agency, global health security partner.
    • National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), India: Nodal agency for disease surveillance and outbreak investigation in India.
  • International Health Regulations (IHR 2005):
    • Legally binding framework for 196 countries.
    • Aim: Prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease.
    • Requires reporting of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).

World Health Organization Logo

⭐ The International Health Regulations (IHR) were first adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1951 and have been revised multiple times, with the current version being IHR (2005).

Global Infectious Disease Control - Disease Detectives Now

  • Surveillance Types:

    • Passive: Routine reporting (e.g., physician reports).
    • Active: Health agency actively seeks data (e.g., surveys, outbreak investigations).
    • Sentinel: Reporting by selected institutions/individuals.
    • Syndromic: Monitoring non-specific health indicators (e.g., school absenteeism, OTC drug sales).
  • Outbreak Investigation Steps:

Attack Rate (AR): (Number of new cases in a group / Number of susceptible persons in the group at risk) × 100. Used in outbreak settings to measure risk of disease among exposed individuals during a limited period.

  • Containment Strategies: Quarantine, isolation, contact tracing, vaccination, chemoprophylaxis.
  • International Health Regulations (IHR): Legally binding framework for global health security; aims to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. Key: Notification of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).

Global Infectious Disease Control - Major Killers Tamed

Global collaboration and strategic interventions have significantly reduced the impact of major infectious diseases.

  • Tuberculosis (TB):
    • WHO's DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) strategy is key.
    • India: National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), succeeding RNTCP.
    • Challenges: MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistant) & XDR-TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant) emergence.
  • Malaria:
    • Control: LLINs, IRS, ACTs (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy).
    • India: NVBDCP (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme) leads control.
  • HIV/AIDS:
    • ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition.
    • Prevention: ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, Condom use). 📌 Mnemonic: Always Be Careful.
    • India: NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) guides national response.
  • Poliomyelitis:
    • GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) utilizes OPV & IPV.

    ⭐ India was declared polio-free by WHO in March 2014.

  • Smallpox:
    • Globally eradicated 1980 - landmark public health achievement. Global Health Milestones Since 2000
  • Core Strategies: Surveillance, vaccination programs, IHR (International Health Regulations).

Global Infectious Disease Control - Shields & Superbugs

  • Shields (Immunization):
    • EPI (WHO, 1974): Expanded Programme on Immunization, global strategy.
    • UIP (India, 1985): Universal Immunization Programme; 12 free vaccines under National Immunization Schedule.
    • Mission Indradhanush/IMI: Intensified drives to ↑ full immunization coverage.
    • Cold Chain: Essential for vaccine potency; most require +2°C to +8°C.
  • Superbugs (Antimicrobial Resistance - AMR):
    • AMR: Microbes evolve resistance to antimicrobials; major public health threat.
    • Drivers: Overuse/misuse of antibiotics (human, animal, agriculture); poor sanitation, IPC.
    • One Health Approach: Collaborative strategy (human-animal-environment).
    • Key Threats: MRSA, VRE, CRE (e.g., NDM-1), MDR/XDR-TB.
    • Containment: Antimicrobial stewardship, robust IPC, surveillance (NCDC), research. One Health System Diagram

⭐ India's NAP-AMR (2017) prioritizes awareness, surveillance, infection control, stewardship, research, and global collaboration to combat AMR.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • WHO spearheads global disease control via International Health Regulations (IHR) and surveillance.
  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major global health security threat demanding immediate action.
  • Global Fund & GAVI are vital for HIV, TB, Malaria control and vaccine equity.
  • The One Health approach is essential for tackling zoonotic diseases and emerging infections.
  • Pandemic preparedness requires robust surveillance, lab capacity, and rapid response.
  • Key goals include disease elimination/eradication (e.g., Polio, NTDs) and universal health coverage supporting control efforts.

Practice Questions: Global Infectious Disease Control

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following vaccines is not included in the Mission Indradhanush program?

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Flashcards: Global Infectious Disease Control

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Which subtypes of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia are associated with upper respiratory tract infection?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Which subtypes of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia are associated with upper respiratory tract infection?_____

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP)

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