Task 6- Smallpox eradicated, why still fear?

There is still some fear about an epidemic of smallpox that could arise. If the disease has been eradicated then how is there still a chance of the smallpox disease getting back from eradication? The CDC states that ‘Smallpox is caused by the variola virus that emerged in human populations thousands of years ago. Except for laboratory stockpiles, the variola virus has been eliminated. However, in the aftermath of the events of September and October, 2001, there is heightened concern that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. For this reason, the U.S. government is taking precautions for dealing with a smallpox outbreak’.

People are worried that the disease will come back from a bioweapon terrorist attack. So to prepare for the event the smallpox virus is still in laboratories so vaccinations can still be produced in such an event of a bioweapon attack.

However, some say that there are much bigger and worse illnesses/diseases that could be spread by a bioweapon attack so why would the attackers pick smallpox? There has been an ongoing debate for many years about should the last remaining stocks of smallpox be destroyed or kept. There has been many times when the destruction of the stocks should have gone ahead but a meeting at the World Health Assembly pushed the date back in order for more tests and research to be carried out.

Our task was to research the for and against argument for the destruction of small pox and prepare for a discussion based on the following question:

*One of the longest and most contentious international policy debates has swirled around the question of whether to destroy the last known stocks of the smallpox (Variola) virus, which are preserved at two World Health Organization (WHO)- authorized repositories in Russia and the United States. Although smallpox was eradicated from nature more than three decades ago, concerns surfaced in the early 1990’s that a few countries might have retained undeclared samples of the virus for biological warfare purposes. Because a smallpox outbreak would be a global public health emergency of major proportions, in 1999 the WHO approved a research program at the two authorized repositories to develop improved medical defences against the disease.*

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (2007). Smallpox Overview. Available: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp.  Last accessed 17th April 2013.

Task 6- Smallpox

In this assignment we have been asked to look at the infectious disease Smallpox. So what is smallpox?

The CDC (2007) states that ‘Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease’. The WHO (2013) states that ‘caused by Variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. It was one of the world's most feared diseases until it was eradicated by a collaborative global vaccination programme led by the World Health Organization’. The WHO (2013) also has stated that ‘Smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1979’.
According to CDC (2007) there ‘There are two clinical forms of smallpox. Variola major is the severe and most common form of smallpox, with a more extensive rash and higher fever. There are four types of variola major smallpox: ordinary (the most frequent type, accounting for 90% or more of cases); modified (mild and occurring in previously vaccinated persons); flat; and hemorrhagic (both rare and very severe). Historically, variola major has an overall fatality rate of about 30%; however, flat and hemorrhagic smallpox usually are fatal. Variola minor is a less common presentation of smallpox, and a much less severe disease, with death rates historically of 1% or less’.

The CDC (2007) has produced a fact sheet on their website about smallpox. The table is below.

Smallpox Disease
Incubation Period (Duration: 7 to 17 days) Not contagious	Exposure to the virus is followed by an incubation period during which people do not have any symptoms and may feel fine. This incubation period averages about 12 to 14 days but can range from 7 to 17 days. During this time, people are not contagious.
Initial Symptoms (Prodrome) (Duration: 2 to 4 days) Sometimes contagious*	The first symptoms of smallpox include fever, malaise, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting. The fever is usually high, in the range of 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this time, people are usually too sick to carry on their normal activities. This is called the prodrome phase and may last for 2 to 4 days.
Early Rash (Duration: about 4 days) Most contagious Rash distribution: View enlarged image.	A rash emerges first as small red spots on the tongue and in the mouth. These spots develop into sores that break open and spread large amounts of the virus into the mouth and throat. At this time, the person becomes most contagious. Around the time the sores in the mouth break down, a rash appears on the skin, starting on the face and spreading to the arms and legs and then to the hands and feet. Usually the rash spreads to all parts of the body within 24 hours. As the rash appears, the fever usually falls and the person may start to feel better. By the third day of the rash, the rash becomes raised bumps. By the fourth day, the bumps fill with a thick, opaque fluid and often have a depression in the center that looks like a bellybutton. (This is a major distinguishing characteristic of smallpox.) Fever often will rise again at this time and remain high until scabs form over the bumps.
Pustular Rash (Duration: about 5 days) Contagious	The bumps become pustules—sharply raised, usually round and firm to the touch as if there’s a small round object under the skin. People often say the bumps feel like BB pellets embedded in the skin.
Pustules and Scabs (Duration: about 5 days) Contagious	The pustules begin to form a crust and then scab. By the end of the second week after the rash appears, most of the sores have scabbed over.
Resolving Scabs (Duration: about 6 days) Contagious	The scabs begin to fall off, leaving marks on the skin that eventually become pitted scars. Most scabs will have fallen off three weeks after the rash appears. The person is contagious to others until all of the scabs have fallen off.
Scabs resolved Not contagious	Scabs have fallen off. Person is no longer contagious.
* Smallpox may be contagious during the prodrome phase, but is most infectious during the first 7 to 10 days following rash onset.

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (2007). Smallpox Overview. Available: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp.  Last accessed 17th April 2013.

World Health Organisation. (2013). Smallpox. Available: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/smallpox/en/.  Last accessed 17th April 2013.

Task 5- Immunisation: For or Against?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/5434165/Children-without-MMR-should-be-banned-from-school-says-former-BMA-chairman.html

In this task we had to discuss the following statement: Immunisation continues to be one of the key interventions in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. We were given the option of looking at a certain aspect of immunisation or look at it as a whole. I decided to focus on the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination. I chose this topic as there has and still is controversy over the MMR vaccination and whether it is linked to causing Down syndrome and Bowel disease. It was interesting to see how much the media via newspapers or TV affected societies mind whether to have the vaccination or not. having done all the research into both sides of the argument and seeing statistics alongside the arguments I felt that the highly unlikely risk of major complications are a risk worth taking as the side effects and complications of the individual diseases are life changing and are a threat to peoples life’s.
Below are some of the points that are in my assignment.

For MMR:

·         Since introduction of vaccination in 1988, number of children who catch the conditions has fallen to an all-time low.  NHS conditions

·         If you come into contact with one of the conditions, your immune system produces antibodies to fight it immediately. NHS conditions

·         No immunisation risk of an outbreak higher and these are dangerous diseases that can be fatal.

·         1987- 86,000 children caught measles 16 died. - http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_105189.pdf

·         No child died of measles since 1992

·         Close to wiping out mumps

·         Close to wiping out rubella

·         No link found in studies

·         Babies can cope with up to 10,000 vaccines so three at once is ok.

Against MMR:

·         Study by DR Andrew Wakefield- showed a link between MMR and Autism. NHS conditions

·         Side Effects- common and rare

Bibliography

·         CDC. (2011). Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccines/MMR/MMR.html. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         Hughes, S. (2011). Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Available: http://www.neilstoolbox.com/bibliography-creator/reference-website.htm. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         Lever, A. (2012). MMR vaccine uptake reaches 14-year high. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20510525. Last accessed 27/02/13.

·         NetDoctor. (2012). How does the MMR vaccine work and what are the risks?. Available: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/travel/203899.html. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         NHS. (2004). MMR vaccine. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/mmr-vaccine.aspx. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         Smith R. (2012). MMR uptake rates finally recovered from Wakefield scandal figures show. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9705374/MMR-uptake-rates-finally-recovered-from-Wakefield-scandal-figures-show.html. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         Taylor, B. (2002). Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and bowel problems or developmental regression in children with autism: population study. Available: http://www.bmj.com/content/324/7334/393. Last accessed 27/02/2013.

·         http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1808826.stm

 

Task 4- Whooping Cough Presentation

                                          http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/cough.html

In this task we were asked to research a particular infectious disease of our choice and produce a presentation that will be delivered to the whole of the class. I chose to look at the infectious disease whooping cough. I picked this as I didn’t think many people will have heard about it nor would they choose this as their subject area. I was right! No one else decided to look at whooping cough which made it better for me when delivering the presentation. The presentation had to last ten minutes; it was quite a daunting task and with hindsight could have done much better. This is some of the information I put into the presentation: 

Whooping Cough is a bacterial infection. The medical name for whooping cough is Pertussis, this comes from the bacteria’s name which is called Bordetella Pertussis. It is a highly infectious disease and affects the lungs and airways, mainly the trachea (windpipe) and the Bronchi (two tubes leading to each Lung). Whooping cough is a cough that is very persistent and can last up to 3-4 months, another nickname for this disease is called the 100 day cough.

                      Summary:

—  Infectious disease.

—  Bordetella Pertussis Bacterium.

—  Affects Lungs and Airways.

—  Takes months to recover.

—  Most harmful to babies.

—  Coughing fits are intense.

—  Vaccines are available.

—  Get a booster vaccine in adulthood.

I also attached a video in from YouTube to show what whooping cough is and how it sounds/affects

Someone who has contracted the disease. Here is the video: 

—  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIV460AQUWk&feature=player_detailpage



Task 3- Joint Assinment

                                       http://www.lilithnews.org/2013/02/rise-of-superbugs.html

In this task we were asked to pair up with someone else in the class. I paired up with Emma who I sit next to in class, we were friends before this task so it helped and we both knew how each other works and what we were aiming for in grades. We were given the infectious disease 'Influenza'. I was disappointed when I was first given this as I wanted to look into a disease that I had not necessarily got the greatest knowledge about and would like to learn something new. However, we stuck with influenza and firstly completed a fact sheet about influenza. From this fact sheet we could produce a detailed assignment about this topic. we had to write up a contract so each of us had to stick to and had to work together to get the best possible results we were hoping for. This is the basic information about influenza that we found out about and this helped us build on this to produce the full assignment.

Infectious Disease Fact Sheet

Name of disease:	Influenza
Name of causative agent	RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxovindae
Type of microbe	Bacterium     Eukaryote      Virus    Provirus
If bacterial:	Not bacterial
Gram-reaction	N/A
Cell shape and arrangement	N/A
If Eukaryotic	Alga  Protozoa  Platyhelminth  Nematode  Fungus                                Not a Eukaryotic
Multicellular or unicellular	N/A
If Viral	DNA   +Strand RNA   -Strand RNA   Retrovirus
Naked or Enveloped	Enveloped
Formation of Provirus	Gets the cell to reproduce the RNA of the virus, breaks into your cells and puts RNA into the cells DNA
Epidemiology:
Geographic prevalence	Worldwide
Average rate of infection (Ro Number)	R-O is 1. If one person had influenza, one person would catch it etc.
Reservoir(s)	Pigs, Birds, Humans, Non-loiving organisms (Chairs, lift buttons, door handles etc).
Main transmission mode(s)	Coughing, Sneezing, Direct contact, Contact with contaminated objects, contaminated moisture droplets in air.
Pathology:
Major tissue/organs affected	Lungs, Bronchi, Throat.
Major signs/symptoms	High Temp, chest pains, breathing difficulties, sickness, fatigue, sore throat, muscle soreness, headaches, sensitive to light.
Sequalae?	Long Term consequences: have pneumonia, Reyes syndrome- effects brain, and cardiac complications- inflammation of heart.
Latency?	Between 2-7 days
Treatment:
Main treatment methods	Rest, antiviral drugs (Adamantane), drugs to relieve sore throats, runny nose and coughs.
Typical length of treatment	Approx 7-14 days
Prophylactic measures	Social isolation