Environmental Control Strategies
Part 1
Some of the plague’s environmental control strategies include removing rock piles and confiscating all potential rodent food provisions. Doing so restricts their multiplication by minimizing their survival rate and forcing them to move away from human habitats. Removing cluttered firewood by placing them in safe places far from rodent accessibility can help reduce rodents near homes. Other measures include removing junks, which may act as rodent habitat, and fortifying homes and other buildings to make them rodent-proof. The environmental control strategies revolve around reducing or eradicating rodent habitat near homes, recreational areas, and workplaces.
Part 2
Some possible clinical control strategies for the plague include the use of antibiotics and respiratory support to control symptoms in people suspected or confirmed to have the disease. Clinical control can also be accomplished through therapies such as bacteriocin therapy and serum therapy, which contribute to the recovery of those infected with the disease (Ditchburn & Hodgkins, 2019). Besides, vaccination using subunit vaccines can be applied to control the plague and prevent its increased spread. Although the use of vaccines has imminent safety concerns and no known vaccine can cure the plague, it is essential to administer vaccinations that address potential symptoms to ensure the people’s safety.
Part 3
Although clinical and environmental control strategies seek to stop the plague’s spread, they are different in several ways. Clinical control strategies aim to treat the disease and eradicate the bacteria to prevent further spread of the plague through medication. They are fulfilled through the administration of vaccines and giving antibiotics to ensure patient recovery. In contrast, environmental strategies aim to control the plague’s spread by reducing or eliminating any close contact between humans and infectious rodents or fleas.
Part 4
Examples of infectious diseases with an environmental route and can still be spread from person to person include polio and swine flu. Polio enters the human body through eating or drinking contaminated food or water and then spread from human to human through contact. Swine flu, on the other hand, was first transmitted from pigs to humans. Person to person infection of swine flu occurs through coughing, sneezing, or touching a surface with the flu germs and using the same hand to touch the nose or eyes.
Part 5
Non-communicable diseases are brought about by many factors, including environmental, genetic, and physiological factors (Marmot & Bell, 2019). Some of the diseases caused by both environmental and non-environmental factors include asthma and cancer. Asthma can be a result of the common cold and also ecological pollutants such as air pollution. On the other hand, cancer can occur due to genetic risks or environmental factors such as radioactive pollutants or tobacco smoking.
Part 6
Complex diseases result in economic and social burdens to the public from the hefty costs and massive loss of lives. The majority of these diseases have their origin from the environment. Environmental exposures are relevant since they enable researchers and doctors to determine the genetic vulnerabilities of different people to different complex illnesses and aid in drug development. People are always in contact with varying environmental factors either at home or in places of work. Notably, different individuals respond differently to different environmental conditions that can potentially harbor infections or infectious organisms.
References
Ditchburn, J. L., & Hodgkins, R. (2019). Yersinia pestis, a problem of the past and a re-emerging threat. Biosafety and Health, 1(2), 65-70.
Marmot, M., & Bell, R. (2019). Social determinants and non-communicable diseases: time for integrated action. BMJ. 364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l251