Communicable Disease

-Communicable diseases are caused by

pathogens
are

passed from one human to another. Pathogens

viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal.
Methods of transmission include mucus,
blood, breath, saliva and sexual contact.
Contaminated surfaces, such as
doorknobs, counter tops and

playground equipment, provide a medium for passing disease from one human
to another.

List of Communicable Diseases

1. EBOLA VIRUS- Ebola is one of several viruses that can cause Viral
Haemorrhagic Fever. The first Ebolavirus
species was discovered in 1976 in what is
now the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
near the Ebola River. Since then, outbreaks
have occurred sporadically, mainly in West
and Central Africa. Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD) has a high mortality rate and there is
no treatment proven to be effective,
although experimental treatment for EVD
is undergoing evaluation.

How Ebola Transferred:

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who
is sick with Ebola; the virus is not transmitted through the air (like measles virus).
However, large droplets (splashes or sprays) of respiratory or other secretions from a
person who is sick with Ebola could be infectious, and therefore certain precautions
(called standard, contact, and droplet precautions) are recommended for use in
healthcare settings to prevent the transmission of Ebola from patients to healthcare
personnel and other patients or family members.

How to Prevent Ebola:

There is as yet no vaccine available to prevent Ebola
infection. The aim of all prevention techniques is to
avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of
infected persons.

This includes avoiding travel to

areas where Ebola outbreaks are occurring, and

taking precautions when providing health care for
potentially infectious persons.

Precautions may include wearing of protective clothing

(such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles), using infection-control measures (such as
complete equipment sterilization and routine use of disinfectant), and isolating patients
with Ebola from contact with unprotected persons.

How Ebola Communicates:

Ebola does not spread as easily as more common illnesses such as colds, the flu, or
measles. There is NO evidence that the virus that causes Ebola is spread through the air
or water. A person who has Ebola CANNOT spread the disease until symptoms appear.

2.HIV/AIDS-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) destroys or impairs the immune

system of the people it infects. As the immune system weakens individuals become more
at risk to infections. As condition progresses, the immune system becomes weaker and
the individual becomes more at risk to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the
most advanced stage of HIV.

Because of advances in medicines called antiretroviral

drugs, many people with HIV live for 15 years or more before symptoms of AIDS appear.
(The red ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with
AIDS.)

How HIV/AIDS Transferred:

HIV enters the body through open cuts, sores or breaks in the skin; through mucous
membranes, such as those inside the anus or vagina; or through direct injection. There
are several ways by which this can happen:
Sexual contact with an infected person. Anal or vaginal intercourse without a condom
with a partner who is either positive or does not know his or her HIV status account for
the vast majority of sexually-transmitted HIV cases in the U.S. and elsewhere. Oral sex
is not an efficient route of HIV transmission. To learn more about the "theoretical risk"

of oral sex and HIV transmission, click here. Kissing, massage, masturbation and "hand
jobs" do not spread HIV.
Sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment with someone who is infected.
Mother-to-child transmission. Babies born to HIV-positive women can be infected with
the virus before or during birth, or through breastfeeding after birth.
Transmission in health care settings. Healthcare professionals have been infected with
HIV in the workplace, usually after being stuck with needles or sharp objects containing
HIV-infected blood.
Transmission via donated blood or blood clotting factors. However, this is now very
rare in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies, including in the United
States.

How to Prevent HIV/AIDS:

Get tested and know your partners HIV status. Talk to your partner about HIV testing
and get tested before you have sex.
Have less risky sex. Oral sex is much less risky than anal or vaginal sex. Anal sex is the
most risky type of sex for the spread of HIV.
Use condoms. Use a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Read this fact
sheet on how to use condoms correctly.
Limit your number of sexual partners. If you have more than one sexual partner, get
tested for HIV regularly. Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), and insist that your partners do, too. Having an STI can increase your risk of
becoming infected with HIV.
Dont inject drugs. But if you do, use only sterile drug injection equipment and water and
never share your equipment with others.

How HIV/AIDS Communicates:

Risk tells us about the possibility of harm. In the context of HIV prevention, it refers to
the chance that specific activities or actions will result in HIV transmission.
Risk can generally be communicated to clients in two ways:
as a numerical expression. For example, the average risk of HIV transmission
during one act of unprotected receptive anal sex is 1.4%; or antiretroviral
treatment can reduce the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by up to 96%.

as a qualitative expression. For example, the risk of HIV transmission during

unprotected receptive anal sex is very high; or antiretroviral treatment can be
highly effective at reducing the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission.
3. TUBERCULOSIS- Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is a bacterial infection
that can spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to any organ in your body. It

is most often found in the lungs. Most people who

are exposed to TB never develop symptoms because
the bacteria can live in an inactive form in the body.
But if the immune system weakens, such as in people
with HIV or elderly adults, TB bacteria can become
active. In their active state, TB bacteria cause
death of tissue in the organs they infect. Active TB
disease can be fatal if left untreated.

How to Prevent Tuberculosis:

Active tuberculosis (TB) is very contagious. The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that one-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that
cause TB.
To avoid getting an active TB infection:

Do not spend long periods of time in stuffy, enclosed rooms with anyone who has
active TB until that person has been treated for at least 2 weeks.
Use protective measures, such as face masks, if you work in a facility that cares
for people who have untreated TB.
If you live with someone who has active TB, help and encourage the person to follow
treatment instructions.

How Tuberculosis Transferred:

When people with TB in their lungs or throat cough, laugh, sneeze, sing, or even talk, the
germs that cause TB may be spread into the air. If another person breathes in these
germs there is a chance that they will become infected with tuberculosis. Repeated
contact is usually required for infection.
Someone with TB disease is sick and can spread the disease to other people. A person
with TB disease needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.

It is not easy to become infected with tuberculosis. Usually a person has to be close to
someone with TB disease for a long period of time. TB is usually spread between family
members, close friends, and people who work or live together. TB is spread most easily in
closed spaces over a long period of time. However, transmission in an airplane, although
rare, has been documented.

Even if someone becomes infected with tuberculosis, that does not mean they will get TB
disease. Most people who become infected do not develop TB disease because their
body's defences protect them.

How Tuberculosis Communicates:

Scientists have discovered how the body's immune system detects the tuberculosis
bacterium, a finding that could aid the development of novel vaccines and drugs to
artificially trigger an immune response.
The research was published in Science last week (19 October).
The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects one-third of the world's population
and is responsible for two million deaths each year.
Paul Leaner of the UK-based Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and colleagues
identified a receptor on the host cells known as CCR5 that triggers the immune cells'
response to tuberculosis (TB).
The team demonstrated that without this receptor, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was able
to thrive inside host cells, as the immune cells did not receive the signal from CCR5 to
attack them.
"These results describe a novel mechanism whereby Mycobacterium
tuberculosis communicates with the human immune system," says Beate Kamp mann at the
UK-based Welcome Centre for Clinical Tropical Medicine, one of the study's authors.

4. INFLUENZA- Influenza is a viral infection that

attacks your respiratory system your nose, throat and
lungs. Influenza, commonly called the flu, is not the same
as the stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and
vomiting.
Influenza and its complications can be deadly.

How to Prevent Influenza:

Vaccination is the best way to protect you from the flu. There are additional steps you
can take to keep yourself and your family healthy this flu season.
There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.

Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress,
drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the
tissue in the trash after you use it.

How Influenza Transferred:

The flu is a highly contagious disease. The flu virus is spread when you either inhale
infected droplets in the air (spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes) or when
you come in direct contact with an infected person's secretions (by kissing, touching,
sharing objects such as spoons and forks). You can also transfer the flu virus to your
hands by touching smooth surfaces such as doorknobs, handles, television remotes,
computer keyboards, and telephones. Then when you touch your hands to your nose, eyes,
or mouth, the flu virus gets absorbed.

How Influenza Communicates:

People who have the flu may spread it to others about 1 day before getting sick to 5 -7
days after. Children and people with weak immune systems can spread the flu virus for a
longer period of time. However, people are most contagious during the first three days of
illness.

5.MEASLES- Measles is a highly infectious illness

caused by a virus. The virus lives in the mucus of the
nose and throat of people with this infection. Physical
contact, coughing and sneezing can spread the infection.
In addition, infected droplets of mucus can remain active
and contagious for around two hours.

How to Prevent Measles:

Routine measles vaccination for children combined with
mass immunization campaigns in countries with high case and death rates, are key public
health strategies to reduce global measles deaths. The measles vaccine has been in use
for 50 years. It is safe, effective and inexpensive.

How Measles Transferred:

The measles virus is highly contagious. Measles is spread through droplet transmission
from the nose, throat, and mouth of someone who is infected with the virus. These
droplets are sprayed out when the infected person coughs or sneezes. Among
unimmunized people exposed to the virus, over 90% will contract the disease. The
infected person is highly contagious for four days before the rash appears until four days
after the rash appears. The measles virus can remain in the air (and still be able to cause
disease) for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room.

How Measles Communicate:

The flu communicates through tiny wet drops produced when a person coughs, sneezes, or
talks. A person can get the flu by breathing in these wet drops, or by touching items and
surfaces covered with these drops and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

People who have the flu may spread it to others about 1 day before getting sick to 5 -7
days after. Children and people with weak immune systems can spread the flu virus for a
longer period of time. However, people are most contagious during the first three days of
illness.

6. CHICKEN POX- Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by primary

infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). It usually starts with a vesicular skin rash

mainly on the body and head rather than on the

limbs. The rash develops into itchy, raw pockmarks,
which mostly heal without scarring.

How Chicken Pox Transferred:

The virus spreads in the air when an infected
person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by
touching or breathing in the virus particles that
come from chickenpox blisters. Chickenpox can also
be spread from people with shingles. Varicella-zoster virus also causes shingles.

How Chicken Pox Communicate:

Through inhalation of airborne droplets & direct contact of weeping lesions &
contaminated linens.

How to Prevent Chicken Pox:

Mask patient. Provider should avoid contact if theyve never had chicken pox. Vaccination
now available (1995) and part of childhood immunizations.

7. PNEUMONIA- Pneumonia is an inflammatory

condition of the lung affecting primarily the
microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. It is usually
caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and
less commonly other microorganisms, certain
drugs and other conditions such as autoimmune
diseases.

How to Prevent Pneumonia:

Get a seasonal flu shot. The influenza virus can be a direct cause of viral
pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia is also a common complication of the flu. A yearly flu
shot provides significant protection.

Get a pneumonia vaccination. Doctors recommend a one-time vaccine against

Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria (pneumococcus) for everyone older than age 65, as
well as for people of any age residing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
and for smokers.

The vaccine is especially recommended for anyone at high risk of pneumococcal

pneumonia. Some doctors recommend a booster shot five years after the first dose.

Have your child vaccinated. Doctors recommend a different pneumonia vaccine for
all children younger than age 2 and for children ages 2 to 5 years who are at particular
risk of pneumococcal disease. Children who attend a group day care center should also
get the vaccine. Doctors also recommend seasonal flu shots for children older than six
months.

Practice good hygiene. To protect yourself against ordinary respiratory infections

that sometimes lead to pneumonia, wash your hands regularly or use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer.

Don't smoke. Smoking damages your lungs' natural defenses against respiratory
infections.

Stay rested and fit. Proper rest, a healthy diet and moderate exercise can help
keep your immune system strong.

Set an example. Stay home when you're sick. When you're in public and have a
cold, catch your coughs and sneezes in the inner crook of your elbow.

How Pneumonia Communicates:

The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. People often have small
amounts of germs in their nose and throat that can be passed on through:
Coughs and sneezes these launch tiny droplets of fluid containing germs into the
air, which someone else can breathe in.
Touching an object and transferring germs onto it someone else can touch this
object, and then touch their own mouth or nose.

How Pneumonia Transferred:

A person who is sick with Pneumonia infection has these bacteria in their nose, throat,
windpipe, and lungs. Pneumonia is transmitted (spread) from person-to-person through

airborne droplets. People who are sick with Pneumonia infection usually spread the
disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in
the bacteria.

8. SCABIES- also known colloquially as the

seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection

caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The
mite is a tiny, and usually not directly visible,
parasite which burrows under the host's skin,
which in most people causes an intense itching
sensation caused by an allergic response. The
infection in animals other than humans is
caused by a different but related mite
species, and is called sarcoptic mange.

How to Prevent Scabies:

Avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infested.
Avoid items like bedding or clothing recently used by an infected person.
Household members of an infected person, or others who have been exposed, should
be treated.
Wash clothing and bedding used by an infected person in the previous 24 hours in
hot water in the washing machine and high heat in a dryer. If items can't be
washed, they can be dry cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.
Do not use pesticide sprays or fogs since they are not necessary for scabies and
can be harmful if inhaled or absorbed by the skin.

How Scabies Communicate:

Transmitted skin to skin contact.Transfer from underwear & bedclothes.

How Scabies Transferred:

Scabies is spread by prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies.
Scabies sometimes also can be spread by contact with items such as clothing, bedding, or
towels that have been used by a person with scabies, but such spread is very uncommon
unless the infested person has crusted scabies.

9. RABIES-

is a viral disease that causes acute

inflammation of the brain in humans and other

warm-blooded animals. Early symptoms can include
fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These
symptoms are followed by one or more of the
following

symptoms:

violent

movements,

uncontrolled excitement, and fear of water, an

inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and
loss of consciousness. After symptoms appear,
rabies almost always results in death.

How Rabies Transferred:

Rabies is transmitted to humans from other animals. Rabies can be transmitted
when an infected animal scratches or bites another animal or human. Saliva from an
infected animal can also transmit rabies if the saliva comes into contact with a
mucous membrane of another animal or human. Most rabies cases in humans are the
result of dog bites.

How Rabies Communicate:

The period of communicability is the time period that an animal can transmit rabies to
another animal or a human. Animals may be able to transmit the virus during the period
that they show symptoms of rabies (if there is infectious virus in their saliva). They may
also be capable of transmitting the virus before showing symptoms of rabies. For
example, dogs and cats may transmit the virus for three to seven days prior to showing
symptoms and bats may transmit the virus for 12 days prior to showings symptoms of
rabies.

How to Prevent Rabies:

 Do not feed or handle wild or stray animals, especially those that appear aggressive,
sick or exhibit any abnormal behavior.
Do not keep a wild animal as a pet.
Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control for assistance.
Have your pets vaccinated against rabies according to instructions from your
veterinarian.
Keep your pets indoors at night so they do not come in contact with wild animals.
Keep your pets on a leash.
Report stray animals to your local animal control office so that an animal control
officer can investigate.
If your cat or dog has been bitten or attacked by a wild animal or has bites or
scratches of unknown origin, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
Don't leave table scraps or leftover pet food outside where it will attract wild
animals.
If your cat or dog has bitten a person, contact your local public health unit to
report the incident.
Reduce your chances of contact by animal-proofing your house, cottage and
workplace.

10.Pertussis- commonly called whooping cough is a highly

contagious bacterial disease caused by Bordet Ella pertussis.
In some countries, this disease is called the 100 days' cough
or cough of 100 days.

How to Prevent Pertussis:

The primary method of prevention for pertussis is vaccination. There is insufficient
evidence to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics in those who have been exposed
but are without symptoms. Preventative antibiotics, however, are still frequently used in
those who have been exposed and are at high risk of severe disease (such as infants).

How Pertussis Communicate:

It is highly communicable in the early catarrhal stage before the onset of paroxysmal
cough. Thereafter communicability decreases and becomes negligible in about three

weeks. When treated with a macrolide antibiotic the period of infectivity usually lasts
five days or less after commencement of therapy.

How Pertussis Transferred:

Pertussis or whooping cough is spread by tiny wet drops produced when an infected
person coughs, sneezes or talks. People with whooping cough can spread the disease from
the time they get a runny nose until 3 weeks after their cough starts. People with
whooping cough can prevent spreading the disease if they take the right antibiotics.