Pandemic Influenza
Assignment Objectives:
Relate the historical impact of disease on homeland and national security. Characterize and discuss the current threat and importance of preparedness for naturally occurring diseases. Understand the threats from and history of use of weapons of mass destruction. Identify the public health community's role in responding to weapons of mass destruction.
Assignment: This assignment should take about 3 hours to complete.
Pandemic influenza represents one of the greatest infectious disease threats to human health. Webster and his colleagues (2006) describe how new strains of influenza may emerge from avian, swine and human types of influenza. Kilbourne (2006) presents an overview of the influenza pandemics of the 20th century and their consequences. Taubenberger and Morens (2006) discuss the severe influenza pandemic of 1918. Fauci (2006) discusses the threat of pandemic influenza and the need to prepare for such pandemics. In 2009, a novel strain of influenza caused the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) article presents an overview of the CDC response to the outbreak.
Write a 500- to 600-word essay and cite references in APA style. Use the outline below as topics to guide development of your essay from your research.
1. Background: Discuss the three major influenza pandemics of the 20th century that occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968. Why was the 1918 pandemic the most lethal?
2. Pandemic Response: Discuss the CDC response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. What were the major response activities?
3. Future Pandemic Expectations: What does Fauci (2006) identify as measures to prepare for the next influenzapandemic?
Readings:
Four articles from Emerging Infectious Disease, Volume 12, Number 1, January 2006:
- R.G. Webster et al., H5N1 Outbreaks and Enzootic Influenza
- E.D. Kilbourne, Influenza Pandemics of the 20th Century
- J.K. Taubenberger and D.M. Morens, 1918 Influenza: the Mother of all Pandemics
- A.S. Fauci, Pandemic Influenza Threat and Preparedness
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). "The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: Summary Highlights, April 2009-April 2010." Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/cdcresponse.htm.
Read the articles linked above.