Microbiology-Leishmaniasis Disease Control Plan - Essay Example

Leishmaniasis Disease Leishmaniasis is a disease that is caused by the bite of female phlebotomine sand fly which injects the infective stage during blood meals. The major cause of the disease is a protozoan parasite that belongs to the genus Leishmaniasis. The symptoms of the disease include skin wounds which come up weeks or months after the person or an animal is bitten by the sand flies. Leishmaniasis can be classified into four types namely; Visceral Leishmaniasis which is the most dangerous if not monitored in its early stages, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis which has been indicated as the most common form that causes a sore at the bite site and even leaves a permanent scar, Diffuse cutaneous Leishmaniasis which resembles leprosy and is difficult to treat which starts like cancer of the skin leading to damage of tissue especially on the nose and mouth (Elliott, 2011).

Although the approach to controlling the causal agent of this disease depends on the behavior of the target vector, some of its transmissions which are associated with activities in the forests can be reduced by ensuring that no dwellings are close to the forests. The Governments of the United States and Spain have done a lot in the vector control particularly by spraying insecticides on tree trunks resting sites. This has highly achieved in providing short term protection to the residents around forested regions.

In addition, clearing of forests around homesteads combined with insecticide application in the cleared regions, has led in reduction of sand flies and the yearly reported number of people who are infected with the disease. Likewise, repellents can be useful under certain circumstances such as when people are going into the forests for occupational or recreational purposes. In such cases the use of insecticide treated nets and spraying the forests is advised since it reduces the rate of transmission.

Another major measure towards controlling the disease done is clearing trees and bushes over a radius of at least one kilometer around houses (Elliott, 2011).One of the main methods that I propose in order to control sand flies with insecticides is indoor residual spraying which should be used in areas which have a very active rate of transmission. This requires good knowledge of the epidemiology of Leishmaniasis and the local vector behavioral characteristics and the ecology. The effectiveness of these largely depends on other factors such as the method of application and overall coverage, the quality of the insecticide used and the type of surface sprayed or treated.

In addition, I would suggest that an intensive campaign is done in order to sensitize people to seek treatment in case they detect some symptoms (Litsios & World Health Organization, 2008).Although it is difficult to attain excellent positive practice, this plan cultivates some health practices basically with an aim of enjoyment of life at work and greater connection with others. These include; recognizing and responding to the worker’s needs and the needs of others, creating an enabling environment that doesn’t judge or blame others, improving the physical health of the people that carry out the plan and incorporating positive practices into the working teams, ensuring that medical practitioners find purpose and significance in their work even in negative circumstances.

The plan will also explain on the environmental conditions that inhabit the parasite an aspect that would reduce its spread (Spickler, Roth & Lofstedt, 2010).The plan will also explain that once an individual is infected, the bacterium grows and reproduces in the body of the human being or animal. Due to further reproduction, many bacteria are reproduced an aspect that reduce body immunity to even other diseases. As a result of damages on the body, disease symptoms such as fever, headaches and rashes are likely to be witnessed hence there is a close interrelationship between pathogens and diseases.

The plan suggests that possible measures such as increased capacity of hospitals and other medical facilities would be of great advantage. Moreover, health facilities should ensure that they achieve timely and effective diagnoses in order to help in identifying cases of outbreaks of these diseases among the public. Community awareness should also be intensified an aspect that would prevent the spread of the disease (Elliott, 2011). The plan would also analyze the successive methods that have been achieved in controlling the disease.

This will serve as a platform to encourage people to uphold the new proposed measures.ReferencesElliott, R. L. (2011). Third World Diseases. Springer. Litsios, S., & World Health Organization (2008). The Third Ten Years of the World Health Organization, 1968-1977. World Health Organization. Spickler, A. R., Roth,, J. A., & Lofstedt, J. (2010). Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals. CFSPH Iowa State University.