Principles of Epidemiology - Essay Example

The paper "Principles of Epidemiology" is an outstanding example of epidemiology research. The article analyzes why some people are more infectious than others. It highlights the factors that make superspreaders pose more risks of causing a pandemic.According to Gina Kolata, questions are being raised on whether superspreaders have increased the spread of coronavirus in the US. There are people, termed as superspreaders, who infect a higher number of people than expected. Identifying the superspreaders at the initial stages of an outbreak can significantly lower the number of infections.

The amount of virus spewed by superspreaders and the number of people they interact with influence their Ro. Contact tracing of a superspreader is a critical step in controlling the outbreak of a virus. However, identifying the superspreaders is a challenging task for health experts.Kolata adds that superspreaders are aided by social gatherings that provide a perfect platform to spread the virus. In the US, a conference that occurred at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel led to 108 infections.

The birthday party held at Westport also led to an infection of about 150 people. In Albany, a superspreader infected more than 200 people while in Cook County jail, 400 people were infected. Therefore, shedding a high amount of viruses and close associations with people increases the risk posed by superspreaders. Nevertheless, the risk of high infections caused by superspreaders can be contained via personal hygiene, social distancing, and lockdowns. ReflectionsThe issue of superspreaders emphasizes the need to enforce safety guidelines at an initial stage of an outbreak.

When an outbreak occurs, the likelihood of contracting the virus in a public function is high. Therefore, people are asked to take personal responsibility for adhering to the safety guidelines. This involves wearing masks, keeping social distancing, and maintaining personal hygiene. This can end up lowering the number of infections linked to a superspreader.The infectious rate of some individuals relates to the R0 of epidemics. The incidence rate of spreading a virus from one individual to another influences the extent of an outbreak.

If the incidence rate of spreading the virus is high, then the outbreak will affect many people. Additionally, the extent of spreading the virus depends on the nature of the symptoms. Asymptomatic patients are more likely to infect a high number of people since they do not portray actual signs of infections. Therefore, they directly interact with people and pass the virus. However, there is another section of people who do not contract the virus after interacting with infected patients. Their immunity system is high, which enables them to resistant to the virus.

Discussion Questions1. To what extent do superspreaders pose a risk to the public health system?2. Does genetics influence the likelihood of people becoming superspreaders? Why?3. How does fast contact tracing of superspreaders prevent the outbreak of an epidemic?Personal ReflectionsViruses pose a great risk to human existence in the world. Due to the ease of spreading infections, everybody is at risk. The presence of superspreaders even poses a higher risk of controlling a pandemic. Due to globalization, people visit different cities for various reasons.

When the outbreak occurs, they get the virus and spreads it around the world. Covid-19 originated from Wuhan, China, but found its way to other countries through people. The delay in the suspension of flights from China put other countries at risk as people continued traveling from the epicenter. This laxity has caused havoc in various countries where a high number of people have lost their lives. Italy, Brazil, and the US are some of the nations that have been greatly affected by the spread of coronavirus.

One of the ways of controlling the extent of risks posed by superspreaders is to enforce safety guidelines. For instance, social distancing protects the public from the virus by lowering the level of interactions. Lockdowns also help in controlling the movement and interaction of people. Closing down the boundaries of epicenters prevents the virus from spreading to other countries. If flights had been suspended before and social distancing enforced at an earlier stage, the number of infections would below.

Personal hygiene also helps to prevent the spread of a virus. Wearing masks is a critical way of lowering the risk of spreading viruses. Superspreaders who wear masks in public can prevent the spread of the virus. Since viruses spread via saliva droplets, wearing masks and coughing appropriately can enhance public safety. Therefore, the government should continue sensitizing the public about the need to maintain personal hygiene. Washing hands should also be emphasized since viruses spread by touching surfaces.

When all these measures are enforced, the risks posed by superspreaders can end up declining.