The Biological Threat of Tuberculosis and a Challenge for the Public Health - Essay Example

 Introduction Over the years it is seen that different diseases have emerged as a growing threat to the whole world. Previously these diseases were caused because of natural reasons but increasingly it has been found that the strains of these diseases are now being used as biological weapons. One such disease which is becoming a biological threat to the United States is Tuberculosis. It is seen that tuberculosis is almost affecting 1.7 billion human beings all over the world and almost 1.7 million of these individuals die because of the disease. It is one of the most diseases which cause many deaths in the world. A research done on the rate of tuberculosis found that there was a rapid increase of 20% in the prevalence of tuberculosis in the United States from 1985 to 1992. HIV and Tuberculosis have also been found out to be related as it is seen in many cases that individuals have both HIV and tuberculosis together (Ferguson & Roads 2009; Robbins et al 2005). The most common reason for the occurrence of tuberculosis is over crowdedness and sanitary problems. It is a disease which is most prevalent in the lower class society as they are more susceptible to unhygienic living. The bacterium M.Tuberculosis is the most common strain which affects the human beings with Tuberculosis in the United States. This bacterium affects the immunity of a normal individual by directly acting on the Cell Mediated Immunity. The bacterium enters the macrophages which are white blood cells that provide immunity to an individual. The bacteria then blocks the function of the normal macrophages and gets stored in them After these macrophages replicate the disease is able to spread to the organ it is associated with. Tuberculosis can be of two types which are Primary and Secondary Tuberculosis (Robbins et al 2005). The question now arises as to how this disease is being used as a biological weapon in the United States. It has been seen in the recent years that both the multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) have been on an increase. Both these strains of TB if not cured can prove to be lethal to the life of many human beings in this world. MDR-TB is defined by WHO as “TB caused by organisms that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, two first-line anti- TB drugs”. It means that multi drug resistant TB is resistant to first line anti TB drugs and is difficult to cure. Similarly XDR-TB is defined by WHO as “MDR-TB that is resistant as well to any one of the fluoroquinolones and to at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (amikacin, capreomycin or kanamycin)”. XDR-TB is more difficult to be treated than MDR-TB and thus it has increased the threat for the public health agencies (Sharma et al 2008). This essay would further revolve around the aspects of MDR-TB and XDR-TB and would provide with information of the threats that tuberculosis poses to the public health (Ferguson & Roads 2009). Drug resistant Tuberculosis: Public Health Emergency Terrorism has taken a new route after the 9/11 attacks in the United States as new methods are being derived every day to destroy the lives of millions. The threat of terrorism to the United States has increased so much that the security parameters of the country have increased to large scales. Cross border examinations of people has become a necessary step when letting in immigrants from other states. Terrorism has not only extended its roots to modern technologies but it has also extended them to specific aspects of medicine. Here it is meant that many diseases are now being used as weapons to destroy the lives of individuals. These diseases which are being used as biological weapons are aimed at killing or destroying people. Most of the strategies concerned with the use of biological weapons are with the strains of bacteria which cause the specific disease. These strains are somehow exposed in the society so that human beings can catch them and can be affected (Florida TB Case Highlights emerging strains of ‘XXDR-TB’. Infectious Diseases in Children 2010; Ferguson & Roads 2009). The drug resistant forms of tuberculosis can spread through different means if not as a biological weapon. One way of spreading these diseases is to allow infected individuals to enter the territory and affect other individuals. This way of spreading has so far been most successful in spreading biological terrorism than any other form. Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis and Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis are common diseases which are being used as biological weapons. It has been seen that resistant strains of bacteria have developed for this disease and if human beings are exposed to it then they might catch the disease. One such case occurred when an infected individual entered the territory of United States without being checked. This individual suffered from extensively drug resistant tuberculosis which can prove lethal to human beings if affected as the cure for this type of tuberculosis requires immense care and improved medications which are not resistant. Thus in simple words even if the drug resistant forms of tuberculosis are not used as biological weapons but instead break down in the human body, they can prove to be lethal to the whole population. These drug resistant forms are very difficult to treat and immediate medical attention is required to cure these forms. They pose an increasing threat to the human population if found in one individual. It is said that tuberculosis can spread through close contact and thus if an individual is affected then he can affect many individuals of the society only by coming in contact with others. And similarly if these drug resistant forms are not provided with adequate medications even after detecting the disease then it would form even more lethal forms of the disease (Henderson et al 2002; Sharma et al 2008; Ferguson & Roads 2009). The strains of the tuberculosis which have become resistant over these years can prove to be lethal to the whole society if spread as biological weapons. If these strains spread by means of nature then they would only affect a specific region as the individuals who would be affected would only transmit the disease to the society in which they are living. On the other hand if it spread as a biological weapon then it can spread beyond the roots of the country and can spread in the whole world. Biological weapons can also be used in forms of animals by injecting the strains into animals which the human beings consume. These animals can then affect a whole set of population if it is spread by biological means. Moreover if these drug resistant forms are used as biological weapons then the terrorists would use them deliberately into many states and counties. The transmission characteristics of the bacteria are of immense importance to the terrorists who use these biological weapons. Moreover if this form of bacteria is used as a biological weapon then it can create a whole set of society which would suffer from the disease. This society would not be able to get proper care from the health care professionals and a new strain which is even more resistant to antibiotics might pop out. Thus using tuberculosis as a biological weapon can affect the society as a whole (Henderson et al 2002). If the disease becomes a problem for the whole society several measures would have to taken so as to avoid any further spread. First of all a thorough check on the immigrants of United States would be done as it is found that many of the immigrants are left unchecked into the territories of United States with this disease (CDC 2008). By keeping a thorough check on these immigrants it can be ensured that the disease is not spreading because of them. Moreover thorough researches on the drug resistant strains of tuberculosis would be carried out so as to find the exact characteristics of the strains. This would help to design new medications which would not be resistant to the strains. People who would have been affected by the bacteria would be isolated or given space separately so that they do not affect other normal individuals. Measures would be taken to improve sanitation and hygiene of all the places so that the strain cannot survive in those areas. People who would have been affected by the problem would be cured upon with more potent medications which would last longer. Lastly measures would be taken to ensure that the drugs needed to cure tuberculosis are not being abused in any way (Sharma 2008). Schools can pose to be a potential space for the spread of the drug resistant forms of tuberculosis. It has been known that over crowdedness in places can cause the strain of tuberculosis to spread. Thus it is important that measures in school be also taken so that the bacterium does not spread. In order to do so it is necessary for the school authorities to ensure proper hygienic conditions for the students. The students should be regularly checked for any form of disease and these reports should be given to the parents. The classes for the students should not be overcrowded so that children do not have to remain in close contact all the time. The food and beverages in the schools should be checked upon for any impurities. Education about the possible spread of the disease should be given to the parents and children so that they avoid all possible means by which the disease can be spread. Healthcare facilities also have to have strict measures if the disease becomes a problem. These strict measures can be in the form of advanced facilities provided by the health care professionals. The laboratory and clinical services provided by the facilities should be enhanced so that the characteristics of the resistant forms are analyzed. Healthcare professionals should be given the necessary expertise to cure a patient with the drug resistant bacteria. It is seen that the drug resistant forms of tuberculosis have risen only because of the fact that medications and treatment for tuberculosis has not been done properly. Thus healthcare facilities would ensure proper treatment of the patient and would also ensure the copyrights for the medications of tuberculosis. This is because keeping the copyrights for the medications would help the healthcare facilities to decrease the abuse of Tuberculosis medications. Another potential factor which can cause the spread of TB is public transportation. Thus to ensure that the spread does not become lethal measures would also have to be taken for public transportation. As it is mentioned above that over crowdedness can lead to the spread of the bacteria in individuals it is necessary that the limit of passengers be maintained. Moreover laboratory tests should be recommended for the public transportation passengers so that their own safety is maintained. Although this can prove to be hectic for the passengers but it is for their own safety. The individuals who are found to have the disease should be discouraged to travel from public transportation as they would act as a carrier of the disease for other individuals. Lastly the public should be generally informed about the possible causes of the drug resistant forms of tuberculosis so that individuals suffering from tuberculosis themselves do not travel by public transportation (Sharma 2008). All the measures above were on a general perspective of saving the society as a whole. Some measures would also have to be taken by me and family. These measures should be regarding our hygiene, our atmosphere and our environment. It is necessary for us to ensure that our drinking water is safe and the environment we are living in does not bear any such bacteria. Our surroundings should be analyzed by us to see if any individual around us suffers from tuberculosis. The place where we live should be hygienic enough and should not be over crowded. If the place where we live is overcrowded then it is necessary for us to move to some better place where the prospects of catching the disease are low (Sharma 2008). It has been seen that tuberculosis is on the rise in almost all the countries of the world and different countries have different measures to fight with it. Measures taken by countries should involve all the general public. The country can greatly help to reduce the rate of spread of the disease if it carries specific measures. The countries can put forward plans which would help to carry researches on the strains of tuberculosis. These countries can invest in laboratories and researches so that successful medications are designed to treat the disease. Measures to improve hygiene and sanitation of the whole country can also be taken so that the spread of the disease is minimized (Ann 2009; Upsher et al 2009). Terrorism roots from violence and killings which have been carried out by extremists for specific purposes. But the whole course of terrorism is changing as different methods of killing are being derived. One such method is of the biological weapons. These biological weapons would silently harm the human beings in the society and would make them suffer from different kinds of diseases. MDR-TB and XDR-TB are on the verge of rise in the world and it has been noticed that all the regions of the world contain these strains. These strains can get even more lethal if they are not treated with strict measures by the health care professionals. If these strains further get resistant to all the medications it would be impossible to treat them and would further make a way for the terrorists so that they can use them. If it gets this way the terrorists can use these strains to spread the disease to societies which can prove to be disastrous for the human race. Thus it is recommended that the resistant strains are cured upon now than later so that they cannot be used as powerful biological weapons (Rumyantsev 2006; Henderson et al 2002). It is seen recently that health care professionals are not treating patients with tuberculosis with immense that is required for its treatment. Because of this many virulent strains like MDR-TB and XDR-TB have arose. The availability of tuberculosis medications openly has given a way to the terrorists so that they can use them to build up on their biological weapons. The war on US soil is being fought in between the healthcare professionals and the terrorists as the terrorists are trying to strengthen the resistant strains whereas the healthcare professionals are trying to decrease the threats posed by the strains. These diseases cannot be controlled if strict measures are taken by every individual in the United States. Everyone has to share responsibility to prevent this disease from happening including the general citizens. But as for now the citizens have not yet realized the potential of the upcoming biological threat and the dangers of the diseases are still widespread (Rumyantsev 2006). Conclusion The dangers posed by the disease Tuberculosis have been realized by many of the organizations worldwide and these organizations have taken preventative measures to ensure that the class of human being remains safe from this disease. World Health Organization is one of these organizations which are taking strict measures to save the world from such an endemic. It is designing new technologies and investing in projects which would provide new treatments of TB to the whole world. They are developing a strategy which would ensure that people with tuberculosis are diagnosed with the disease even before the disease gets active. Specific conditions have been set out by the organization under which it is necessary for the health care professionals to test the individual for any positive signs of Tuberculosis. This early diagnosis would help with the definitive treatment of tuberculosis. Moreover a vaccine is also available for tuberculosis known as the BCG vaccine and this also helps to prevent the onset of tuberculosis in many infants (Ferguson & Roads 2009; Upshur et al 2009). The organization is recommending ways through which the infection can be controlled. This can be useful in preventing the spread of tuberculosis to the health care professionals themselves. Similarly the organization is also trying to curb upon the root of the onset of tuberculosis which is poverty and hygiene. The organization is trying to address these issues to the general public and is trying to aware the whole country about the problems that they face because of poverty. If poverty is completely removed from a country then it is possible that the prevalence rate of tuberculosis would fall by a great percentage (Upshur et al 2009). Research is being carried out on the strains of tuberculosis to find out how they are working and what the possible treatment for that strain would be. The researchers are trying to design a new set of drugs which would help in the treatment of the disease and would help to fight the new strains which have become resistant over time to the old antibiotics. Research is also being done on vaccines so that tuberculosis is prevented from the very beginning of a life. In my opinion if the biological threat of tuberculosis is not realized by the states then it can prove to be extremely harmful to the whole society. The resistant strains of tuberculosis have already proved to be a challenge for the public health and with the current conditions it is believed that these strains would spread further. I think that more preventative measures should be taken for the disease so that it cannot be used as a biological weapon (Upshur et al 2009). Biological weapons pose a threat to the society as a whole and in my view the Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis and Extensive Drug Resistant Tuberculosis pose a great threat to the residents of the United States. Bibliography Upshur, Ross, Singh, J. & Ford, N. Apocalypse or redemption: Responding to extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization; June2009, Vol. 87 Issue 6, p481-483, 3p, 1 chart. Article. Florida TB Case Highlights emerging strains of ‘XXDR-TB’. Infectious Diseases in Children; Feb2010, Vol. 23 Issue 2, p 15-15, 1/3 p. Sharma, S.K. Guidelines for the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis- Emergency update 2008. Indian Journal of Medical Research; Nov2009, Vol. 130 Issue 5, p667-668, 2 p. Ferguson, Laurie Anne & Roads, Jacqueline. Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: The new face of an old disease. 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