Reference no: EM133682217 , Length: word count:2000
Outbreak Response Plan
Learning Outcome: Apply evidence-based responses when planning for a communicable disease outbreak scenario
Instructions
Step 1: Read the fictitious communicable disease outbreaks given below and select one that your outbreak response plan will be based on.
Department of Health reports sixth Hendra virus infection cases of 2023
The New South Wales Health Department reports six NSW residents have been diagnosed with Hendra virus infection since the beginning of 2023. On average, three or four people are typically diagnosed with Hendra virus infection over the course of a year in NSW. These individuals resided in Murrurundi, Singleton, and Merriwa localities. Two patients have died; the four surviving patients were all hospitalized and required oxygen or intensive care before being able to return home.
Anthrax Outbreak in Sinazongwe District, Zambia, 2023
On 1 November 2023, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of Zambia notified WHO of an anthrax outbreak in humans. The first human cases were reported from the Dengeza Health Post in the Sinazongwe District of the Southern Province on 5 May 2023. Around the same time period, domestic (cattle and goats) and wild animals (hippopotami) were reportedly dying from an unknown cause in the surrounding areas. In June 2023, human and animal cases were reported in the Kanchindu and Siameja veterinary camps of Sinazongwe District. Twenty-six human cases developed sores on their face, arms, and fingers after consuming meat from three wild hippopotamus carcasses. The first human case was reported on 16 June 2023 and laboratory confirmed by culture at the Lusaka Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI). As of 20 November 2023, 684 suspected human cases, including four deaths, a Case Fatality Ratio (CFR)of 0.6%, were reported from 44 out of 116 districts in nine of Zambia's 10 provinces.
Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Victoria, 2023
The Department of Health has identified an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease involving three cases who have spent time in Cheltenham and the surrounding suburbs. Cases had symptoms commencing in early to mid-May 2023 and have received treatment in hospital. Investigations are underway to identify the source of the outbreak through testing local cooling towers and other potential sources.
Outbreak of Pertussis in Australia, 2023
Between 1 January and 31 March 2023, 8,058 cases of pertussis were reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Cases were reported from all states and territories, with the majority reported by New South Wales (n=5,265) and Queensland (n=1,187). The number of notifications for this quarter was 5.2 times more than in the same period in 2022 (n=1,554) and 4.8 times the 5 year-to-date mean for this quarter (1,677). The annualised notification rate for this quarter of 153 cases per 100,000 population was significantly higher than for the same period in 2022 (30 cases per 100,000 population, with a rate ratio of 5.1.
Step 2:
Download the Outbreak Response Plan Template to use for the development of your plan. This template includes section headers that are required for this assessment and notes about the content. You may put the material into a different format if you wish, noting the formatting requirements, and making sure that you still cover all the assignment elements required,
Step 3:
Use the resources provided in week 4 to review examples of these plans, noting key elements and styles. Use the unit materials and skills developed over weeks 1-8 to address each section of this plan. Unit content and activities each week will directly apply to the development of this document. I have provided additional reading materials to assist you in completing this assignment. Supplement any materials you have not yet gathered with further searches of the literature to enhance your plan
Step 4:
Develop a communicable disease outbreak response plan for your chosen disease outbreak scenario. Format your work into the template. You must cover the following information in your Outbreak Response Plan:
- Background (approx. 2 pages)
- Routine prevention activities (approx. 2 - 3 pages)
- Surveillance and outbreak investigation (approx. 2 -3 pages)
- Case and contact management (approx. 2 - 3 pages)
- Communications (approx. 2 - 3 pages)
- Appendices as required
Word limit: 2000 words excluding appendices, 10-14 pages, (plus or minus 1 page), formatted with 1.5 line spacing