HCS 457 Week 3 DQ's

What are some communicable diseases or threats currently affecting public and community health in your area? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health departments were investigating an outbreak of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections that may be associated with the consumption of frozen berries sold at Costco stores. Additionally, a voluntary recall of the Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels brand, distributed by Scenic Fruit Company, was announced in late June due to potential risk of HAV contamination. As of mid-August, no illnesses have been linked to the Woodstock product, and as of August 1, 2013, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) has identified four patients associated with the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berries from Costco . None of these patients have been hospitalized; all have recovered, and there have been no deaths. No other hepatitis A illnesses associated with any of the other products or companies have been reported in Utah. Utah stores that carry the affected products have removed the products from their stores.

References

CDC DVH - Viral Hepatitis Outbreak Information - 2013 Outbreaks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Outbreaks/2013/A1b-03-31/
Outbreaks > FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Illnesses Associated with Pomegranate Seeds from Turkish Importer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://n.d.http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm354698.htm

What are some environmental factors that affect public and community health? Which factor is most troublesome? Why? Advances in agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene have had a far greater impact on human health than medical technology. Although the environment sustains human life, it can also cause disease. Lack of basic necessities is a significant cause of human mortality. Activities

References: CDC DVH - Viral Hepatitis Outbreak Information - 2013 Outbreaks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Outbreaks/2013/A1b-03-31/ Outbreaks > FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Illnesses Associated with Pomegranate Seeds from Turkish Importer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://n.d.http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm354698.htm What are some environmental factors that affect public and community health? Which factor is most troublesome? Why? Advances in agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene have had a far greater impact on human health than medical technology. Although the environment sustains human life, it can also cause disease. Lack of basic necessities is a significant cause of human mortality. Activities that promote health and extend human life can have adverse environmental effects. For example, food production causes environmental damage from pesticides and fertilizers, soil salinization (salt content in soil), waste produced by livestock, carbon emissions from food manufacturing and transportation, and overfishing (depleting the stock in a body of water). Health care facilities also have adverse environmental impacts. Hospitals use large quantities of electricity and fossil fuels and they also produce medical wastes. To prevent some diseases, it may be necessary to damage the environment. A reduction in mortality from starvation or disease can lead to overpopulation, which stresses the environment in many different ways—increasing use of fossil fuels, clearing land, generating pollution and waste, and so on. Other environmental risk factors include: pollution, microbes in air, water, or soil, contaminants in food, weather conditions (droughts, heat waves), natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods), pesticides and other chemicals, pests and parasites, radiation, poverty, and lack of access to health care. These are the most prevalent issues, and in my opinion, I think that each of them are equally troublesome, however, some are more manageable than others. For example, the contaminates in food and water; these types of issues are highly regulated, though there are times when things slip through the cracks, and recalls or discontinuations must occur. Lack of access to health care is also a big issue, however, if you know where and how to find it, there are many options for coverage such as federal, state, and county or city government run programs. Environment and Health - The Hastings Center. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Publications/BriefingBook