by: Ronaldo V. Mendoza, MD, MBA in Health
Article written by: Dr. Leah Abigail Tampus Tudio
Communicable diseases are transmitted from one person to another in various ways including contact with blood and bodily fluids, breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by an insect.
It is important to report cases of communicable diseases and seek medical assistance to prevent spread of the disease. The application of appropriate medical therapy and the detection of source outbreaks are essential.
How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious agent. Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by:
– physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (staphylococcus), sexual intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)
– contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norwalk virus), food (salmonella, E. coli), blood (HIV, hepatitis B), or water (cholera);
– bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (mosquito: malaria and yellow fever; flea: plague); and
– travel through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles.
List of common communicable diseases:
• Flu (Influenza or common colds)
• Viral Hepatitis
• HIV/AIDS
• Measles
• Mumps
• Pertussis
• Rabies
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Scabies
• Tuberculosis
• Varicella
• Viral Conjunctivitis
How to protect yourself and prevent spread of communicable diseases.
• Handle & Prepare Food Safely
• Wash Hands Often
• Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces
• Cough & Sneeze Into Your Sleeve
• Don’t Share Personal Items
• Get Vaccinated
• Avoid Touching Wild Animals
• Stay Home When Sick
It is important to seek clearance from a medical professional before going back to work to ensure that communicable diseases are not spread in the workplace.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/diseasesconditions/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/docs/oop_brochure_eng.pdf
http://www.acphd.org/communicable-disease.aspx
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