Agent-host-Environment Triad

Agent-host-Environment Triad

Question description

1. Epidemiologist use an “agent-host-environment” triad (sometimes adding “vector” as a forth category) to explorer the factors that contribute to infectious disease in communities. Describe the “AHE” factors that are associated with a selected diarrheal infection, a respirator infection, a vectorborne infection and an STI.
   1. How do the AHE factors differ for the four diseases you selected?
   2. What do the AHEs indicate about disease control and prevention strategies?

1. What are some specific behavioral changes you can make and actions you can take that will reduce your risk of acquiring infections?
2. What are some infectious diseases that are endemic in your community? What are some epidemics that have occurred recently?
3. What infectious diseases meet the criteria for eradication and would be good candidates for a global eradication campaign?
4. Of all the infectious disease mentioned in this chapter, which one would you most like to eradicate? Why?
5. include at least three references not older than five years.

Accurate forecasts could enable more informed public health decisions. Since 2013, CDC has worked with external researchers to improve influenza forecasts by coordinating seasonal challenges for the United States and the 10 Health and Human Service Regions. Forecasted targets for the 2014-15 challenge were the onset week, peak week, and peak intensity of the season and the weekly percent of outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness (ILI) 1-4 weeks in advance. We used a logarithmic scoring rule to score the weekly forecasts, averaged the scores over an evaluation period, and then exponentiated the resulting logarithmic score. Poor forecasts had a score near 0, and perfect forecasts a score of 1. Five teams submitted forecasts from seven different models. At the national level, the team scores for onset week ranged from <0.01 to 0.41, peak week ranged from 0.08 to 0.49, and peak intensity ranged from <0.01 to 0.17. The scores for predictions of ILI 1-4 weeks in advance ranged from 0.02-0.38 and was highest 1 week ahead. Forecast skill varied by HHS region. Forecasts can predict epidemic characteristics that inform public health actions. CDC, state and local health officials, and researchers are working together to improve forecasts.