The city under discussion in Miami, Florida. It can be easily found with the help of its zip code, which is 33193. There are a lot of websites that discuss the healthcare condition of this city from various perspectives. Both epidemiological and surveillance data are included in the majority of them for the representatives of the general public to be aware of those issues they might face.
Communicable Illnesses
Among the most authoritative healthcare organizations is the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (2014). It can be used to identify those communicable illnesses that are currently affecting the citizens of Miami. For instance, it is stated that sexually transmitted diseases have a crucial effect on them. Moreover, illnesses transmitted by animals are also widespread. Based on this information, it seems to be more advantageous to discuss those diseases that are transmitted in different ways. As a result, an opportunity to assess the healthcare condition of the Miami population from various perspectives will be obtained. Comparing information from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (2014) and the class textbook, three illnesses were selected.
As brucellosis, gonorrhea, and Lyme disease can be easily transmitted, a lot of attention should be paid to them. Health organizations of Miami already spend numerous resources to assess the situation, find out what interventions are the most appropriate, and implement them. They make sure that the citizens can easily access the most important information about these health issues so that they do their best to avoid and treat them. For instance, they can be vaccinated in time so that no serious negative effects influence people’s health. Healthcare organizations tend to make the general public interested in the transmission and prevention of various diseases so that they can protect themselves at least to some degree and avoid further spread of diseases. Moreover, citizens can easily find out in what clinics they can receive the needed treatment using only the Internet. As a result, the Miami population can acknowledge that the city cares about them, and initiatives are taken to enhance their overall health condition.
Gonorrhea
Some healthcare issues affect not only particular cities or countries but the whole world. Sexually transmitted diseases are among them. According to Healthy People 2020 (2017), “there are approximately 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases infections each year – almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24” (para. 4). Except for HIV/AIDS that are often discussed by healthcare professionals, the population of Miami is often diagnosed with gonorrhea. This disease can be communicated during intercourse or childbirth. It attracted attention two years ago when almost 100 individuals per 100,000 were diagnosed with it only in the territory of Miami-Dade (Miami Matters, 2017). Healthcare professionals indicate that people of both genders can be affected by this disease, but females usually deal with more severe complications than males.
It is vital to consider various treatment options because without them those people who are already ill will communicate gonorrhea to other citizens. As a result, a lot of them will suffer from infertility, experience pelvic and abdominal pain, or have problems with pregnancy. Fortunately, Healthy People 2020 (2017) discusses gonorrhea in the framework of sexually transmitted diseases and recommends screening to all citizens. The proposed action plan also includes behavioral counseling that presupposes the education of the population. Moreover, people are encouraged to get vaccination and immunization.
Lyme Disease
Miami citizens are often diagnosed with Lyme disease. Nevertheless, this healthcare issue remains unknown to the population. A lack of knowledge is the thing that makes this problem even more critical, as people cannot protect themselves because they do not know how Lyme disease is communicated and treated. Thus, they need to know that it is caused by a bacterium. Transmission is usually maintained through the bite of a tick. This disease is worth discussing because four years ago more than 27,000 individuals were diagnosed with it, almost 70 cases happened in Florida. It is indicated that almost 80% of them were associated with those cases when people were bitten while being abroad (Florida Health, 2017b). In this way, there is even a possibility that those individuals who travel a lot can accidentally bring a tick home. As a result, other people can also be affected.
Because the cause of Lyme disease is not initially located in Miami, its medical staff does not pay much attention to it. Rather often both health professionals and the representatives of the general public lack information about this issue. As a result, people consult physicians in the later stages, and the final diagnosis is made too late, which leads to severe complications. Moreover, even Healthy People 2020 does not focus on this disease even though people started sharing their experiences associated with Lyme disease on its website several years ago. In this way, the only initiatives implemented by Healthy People 2020 to reduce the number of cases when individuals are diagnosed with it include those targeted at the improvement of access to healthcare services. In addition to that, education related to the enhancement of the overall well-being and prevention of illnesses is considered. Moreover, there is a recommendation to check for ticks regularly (Florida Health, 2017b).
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is one more disease that affects the population of Miami but is not discussed by its healthcare professionals decently. It is transmitted by hogs and caused by a bacterium that can hardly be found in Miami. Even though it seems to be extremely rare as less than a dozen patients are diagnosed with it annually, medical staff should be aware of its peculiarities and ensure that those citizens who travel abroad, especially to developing countries, know how to protect themselves. Otherwise, they can get infected while traveling and it will be extremely difficult to make a final diagnosis. In the majority of cases, those individuals who have brucellosis turn out to be hunters. They deal with wild pigs and even consume their meat that can be affected by a hog.
Unfortunately, this healthcare issue lacks discussion as well as Lyme disease. Healthy People 2020 and physicians who work in Miami do not consider it. As a result, the representatives of the general public lack knowledge regarding it and cannot prevent getting infected, as they do not know what precautions should be taken to avoid transmission. Several years ago about a hundred lab workers were affected by this bacterium, which proves that the disease can easily reach the whole population of Miami. That is why, citizens, especially hunters, are encouraged to practice appropriate sanitation (Florida Health, 2017a).
Conclusion
Thus, Miami is affected by various communicable illnesses. Healthy People 2020 tends to provide people with information regarding their peculiarities of transmission and treatment. Unfortunately, some diseases are not addressed but can be considered in the framework of generalized interventions, such as improved access to healthcare. Nevertheless, this situation can be enhanced as the general public discusses their experiences and other health organizations tell them how to protect their health and where to look for assistance.
References
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. (2014). Reportable diseases/conditions in Florida.
Florida Health. (2017a). Brucellosis.
Florida Health. (2017b). Lyme disease.
Healthy People 2020. (2017). Sexually transmitted diseases.
Miami Matters. (2017). Gonorrhea incidence rate.