Question

What are the various public health measures, which you would suggest as safeguard against infectious diseases?

Answer 1

1. Proper disposal of garbage: Garbage should be collected and transported regularly to disposal places.
2. Proper drainage system: Drains should be covered to prevent flies and mosquitoes from multiplying. Any barrier should be addressed quickly.
3. Isolation: To prevent infection, individuals with infectious diseases should be kept separate from others.
4. Sanitation: Maintaining clean surroundings can help prevent disease spread. This involves proper waste disposal, cleaning and disinfecting water sources, and following sanitary standards in public catering.
5. Eradication of vectors: It is essential for eliminating vectors and their breeding places. This can be accomplished by:
   • Preventing stagnant water in and near residential areas.
   • Regularly clean household coolers.
   • Use mosquito netting.
   • Introducing mosquito larva-eating fish such as Gambusia into ponds.
   • Spraying insecticides into ditches, swamps, and drainage areas.
   • Wire mesh should be constructed on all doors and windows.
6. Vaccination and immunisation: This has enabled us to eradicate fatal diseases such as smallpox. Vaccines have effectively reduced a wide range of other infectious diseases, including polio, diphtheria, pneumonia, and tetanus.
7. Control of pollution: Anti-pollution laws must be strictly enforced.
8. Drinking clean water: Drinking water must be filtered and free of contaminants, suspended and dissolved matter.
9. Education: People should be educated on communicable diseases so that they can protect themselves against infection.

Answer 2

Some public health measures that must be taken to safeguard the population against infectious diseases are as follows:

1. Improved access to vaccinations and contraceptives (to prevent STDs).
2. Facilitation of screening, counseling, and education of those at risk of infection.
3. Support to access to treatment.
4. Following good hygiene practices like hand washing.
5. Infection control standards, contact, droplet, and airborne precautions.
6. Procedures for decontamination of persons and disinfection of equipment and environment, if needed.
7. Quarantine of contacts (if necessary).
8. Prophylaxis of exposed individuals.
9. Control of the vectors of transmission of infection.
10. Spreading awareness about the route of transmission of infected diseases.
11. Practice good food-safety techniques.
12. Precautionary measures while travelling to areas of known epidemics.
13. Controlling spread by rodents like rats.