2. DISASTER
Definition of Disaster.
A disaster is a serious disruption occurring over a short or long
period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic
or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources.
Earthquake, tsunami, cyclone, flood, draught, industrial accident,
forest fire, epidemics etc. are examples of Disaster.
The word ‘disaster’ is derived from
Middle French “désastre” and that from
Old Italian “disastro,” which in turn
comes from the Ancient Greek pejorative
prefix δυσ-, (dus-) "bad" and ἀστήρ
(aster), "star". The root of the word
‘disaster’ ("bad star" in Greek) comes
from an astrological sense of a calamity
blamed on the position of planets
Classification of Disaster.
Disasters are mainly classified into two types
1. Natural Disasters
2. Human-made Disasters (Artificial Disasters)
3. NATURAL
DISASTER
A natural disaster is a natural process or
phenomenon that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property
damage, loss of livelihoods and services,
social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage.
Ex : Earthquake, Cyclone, Tsunami,
Flood, Draught etc.
EARTHQUAKE VOLCANIC ERUPTION
CYCLONE DRAUGHT
TSUNAMI
4. HUMAN MADE
DISASTER
Human-Made disasters are the
consequence of technological or human
hazards.
Ex : Stampedes, fires, transport
accidents, industrial accidents,
oil spills, terrorist attacks, nuclear
explosions/nuclear radiation,
Epidemics.
OIL SPILL
FOREST FIRE
TERRORIST ATTACK
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
5. EPIDEMIC
An epidemic word is derived from Greek
ἐπί epi "upon or above" and δῆμος
demos "people"
Definition of EPIDEMIC.
The occurrence of a new cases of a disease or situation in a given
human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially
exceeds what is "expected", based on recent experience is called
EPIDEMIC.
Declaration of EPIDEMIC.
The declaration of an epidemic usually requires a good
understanding of a baseline rate of incidence; epidemics for certain
diseases, such as influenza, are defined as reaching some defined
increase in incidence above this baseline.
A few cases of a very rare disease may be classified as an epidemic,
while many cases of a common disease (such as the common cold)
would not.
When does it become PANDEMIC?
An epidemic may be restricted to one location; however, if it spreads
to other countries or continents and affects a substantial number of
people, it may be termed a pandemic.
6. TYPES OF EPIDEMICS
Common Source Epidemics
These epidemics originate from a single
source of infection of the disease-
producing agent. There are two types of
common source epidemics:
1. Single exposure epidemics
In this type of epidemic the disease agent
responsible for spread of disease is
exposed to susceptible population at one
point of time and only once.
2. Multiple exposure epidemics
In this type of epidemic, the source of
infection is continuous and such
epidemics will not cease to exist unless
the source is removed.
Propagated Epidemics
A propagated epidemic is generally of
infectious origin and results from person to
person transmission of disease agents.
The epidemic shows a gradual rise and
tapers slowly over a period of time.
Transmission continues until there are no
susceptible individuals.
Epidemic of Non-
communicable Diseases
With the advances in science and
technology, the changing life styles have
led to living pattern, which is sedentary and
affluent with little physical activity. This has
resulted in a marked rise in diseases like
hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes and
mental diseases. The non-communicable
diseases are acquired epidemic
proportions in recent times.
Seasonal Epidemics
Certain diseases such as influenza and
pneumonia are more common during
winter season where as diarrhea diseases
are more during summer and rainy
seasons. The epidemics, which occur in
particular season, are known as seasonal
epidemics
Cyclical Epidemics
Some epidemics tend to occur in cycles,
which may repeat over a period of time,
which may be days, weeks, months or
years. An example of this type of epidemic
is measles V which tends to occur in a
cycle of 2-3years.
7. HOW DISEASE OCCURS ?
Diseases occur as a result of interaction between an agent, a host and the environment. Under the normal
conditions, there is a stage of equilibrium among these but in unfavourable conditions this equilibrium gets
disturbed and diseases occur in human body.
Let us understand the terms and environment before we learn about causes of an epidemic.
Agent : A disease ‘agent’ is defined as a substance living or non-living the excessive presence or relative lack of
which may initiate the disease process in man. Examples of living agents are: bacteria, viruses, fungi and
protozoan whereas non living agents are nutrients, chemical substances and physical forces such as heat, coal
and pressure.
Host : Host is the organism in which diseases occur and for us man is considered as host for all practical
purposes. A number of host factors such as age, sex, nutritional status and socio-economic factors are
responsible for occurrence of diseases. In epidemiological terms, man is also defined as the ‘soil’ and disease
agent as ‘seed’.
Environment : Environment is a set of conditions under which human beings live and can be defined as “all that
which is external to individual human host living or non-living and which he is in constant interaction”. This
includes all of man’s external surroundings such as, air, water and sanitation.
The disease assumes epidemiological proportions when the environmental conditions are favourable for
the disease agent and unfavourable conditions exist for host.
8. CAUSES OF EPIDEMIC
Temporary Population Settlements
Rehabilitation operations that follow a disaster are usually set up in crowded temporary camps or settlements. Provision of safe
drinking water, sanitation and other basic services often lack at these places. This results in a rise in the incidence of infectious
diseases like dysentery, measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, scabbies and other skin diseases.
Pre-existent Diseases in the Population
The diseases already occurring in the area are most likely to emerge as epidemics when the area is struck by a disaster. An
epidemic of non-existent disease in that area is unlike to be seen after such disasters.
Ecological Changes
During natural disaster like floods and cyclones, ecological changes occur. It causes increase in the breeding sites for
mosquitoes. This results in an increase in the cases of malaria. Open defecating and decay and decomposition of organic
material increases insect breeding and thereby increases the transmission of disease like conjunctivitis, diarrhea, dysentery,
enter virus infections, and parasitic diseases.
Resistance Potential of the Host
The nutritional and immunization status of the host population determines to a large extent its susceptibility to communicable
disease. Children with poor nutrition are more likely to get infected with communicable disease and the incidence of measles,
whooping cough, diphtheria and tuberculosis is likely to be higher if they are not immunized earlier.
Damage to Public Utility and Interruption of Public Health Services
Public utility services like water supply and sewage if damaged may cause large-scale contamination and subsequent
introduction of diseases in the population. Interruption of ongoing health programmes in the area may also lead to resurgence
of diseases.
9. SAFETY MEASURESTO AVOID EPIDEMIC
If one understands the basic principles of epidemiology, these epidemics can be prevented by adopting certain safety
measures.
Let us see what those precautions or safety measures are:
Predictability
By having knowledge about the frequency and distribution of health problems, clues are obtained which promote
understanding of diseases leading to timely and appropriate intervention foe prevention. Early warning on the basis of the
available data helps in reducing the severity of an epidemic. By improving the sanitary conditions, the spread of disease can be
slowed or even halted. Proper cleanliness measures, proper disposal of solid waste and liquid waste will help in decreasing the
breeding of flies and mosquitoes.
Improvement of Immunity of Host
By improving the nutritional status and by mass vaccination programmes, the resistance of the individuals can be increased
thereby checking the spread of an epidemic.
Community Health Education
Community Health Education can help to halt epidemics by alerting individuals to the signs and symptoms of disease and
stressing the importance of reporting the causes to medical authorities. It is important to teach the methods that can be used to
stop the spread of communicable diseases.
Training
Training at different levels in emergency preparedness and response to epidemics can prove to be an effective safety
measure. This should begin at the school and community levels. Non-government organization can play a very useful role in
the effort.
10. RECENT EPIDEMICS IN INDIA
Corona virus outbreak (2020)
On 30 January, India reported its first case of COVID-19 in Kerala, which rose to three cases by 3 February; all were students
returning from Wuhan. Apart from these, no significant rise in transmissions was observed in February. On 4 March 22 new
cases were reported, including 14 infected members of an Italian tourist group. In March, the transmissions grew after several
people with travel history to affected countries, and their contacts, tested positive. On 12 March, a 76-year-old man, with a
travel history to Saudi Arabia, became the first COVID-19 fatality of India. Since then there is continues increase in cases
which rose to more than 6 million and death reached more than 95 thousand by 28th
September 2020.
Nipah virus outbreak (2018)
In May 2018, a viral infection attributed to fruit bats was traced in the state of Kerala, caused by the Nipah virus that had
caused illness and deaths. Within days of medical practitioners confirming the outbreak of the virus, the Kerala government
stepped in to implement several protectionary measures to contain the spread of the virus and to initiate information sharing
drives with the public. The spread of the outbreak remained largely within the state of Kerala, due to efforts by the local
government and various community leaders who worked in collaboration to prevent its spread even inside the state. Between
May and June 2018, at least 17 people died of Nipah virus and by June, the outbreak was declared to have been completely
contained.
Encephalitis outbreak (2017)
Although the city of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh has had a history of being affected by encephalitis, in 2017, it witnessed an
increase in numbers where several children died of encephalitis, specifically Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute encephalitis
syndrome (AES), caused primarily due to mosquito bites. Both are viral infections that cause inflammation of the brain leaving
long-term physical disabilities and even resulting in death. The outbreak in Gorakhpur was attributed to the lack of cleanliness
and sanitation in certain districts. Further compounding the problem, in a state-run hospital in the city where many children
were being treated, oxygen supplies were cut off by the supplier due to non-payment of dues, leading to the deaths of several
children. By September 2017, more than 1,300 children had died.
11. RECENT EPIDEMICS IN INDIA
Swine flu outbreak (2014-15)
In the last few months of 2014, reports emerged of the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, one type of influenza virus, with states like
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra and Telangana being the worst affected. By February 2015, India reported at least
12,963 affected cases and 31 deaths. The virus spread to other parts of the country, prompting the Indian government to
initiate public awareness drives. By March 2015, according to India’s Health Ministry, approximately 33,000 cases had been
reported across the country and 2,000 people had died.
Odisha jaundice outbreak (2014-15)
Several towns in Odisha witnessed an outbreak of jaundice in September 2014, with the first few cases having been reported
from the town of Sambalpur. Within three months, at least six people had died and more than 670 cases of jaundice had been
reported in the town. Investigators concluded that drain water had possibly seeped through pipe lines for drinking water,
contaminating hundreds of people. By February 2015, the contamination of water had reached neighbouring towns and
districts like Jajpur, Khorda and Cuttack and at least 3,966 cases of jaundice had been reported from across the state. The
official death toll according to the Odisha state government was 36 but researchers estimated it to be higher, closer to 50.
This list of epidemics in India is very long, here mentioned epidemics are of just last five years.
12. Today we discussed EPIDEMICS,
it’s types, It’s causes and it’s prevention.
When we see recent EPIDEMICS in INDIA, we
realise that in recent times they are occurring very
often. We must not forget COVID-19 that we are still
fighting to.
Its high time now for all human beings to come
together and think about improving health facilities,
improving our living habits and bringing more and
more awareness in public about maintaining
cleanliness and contributing our best as an individual
human being.
Wishing you all for Healthy and Happy life ahead.
CONCLUSION
