Introduction
The chosen community for the epidemiology assessment is Miami-Dade County, particularly the city of Miami with the zip code 33131. The selected diseases for the analysis are HIV/AIDS, influenza, and syphilis. These diseases pose a threat to people’s health in the community for various reasons. However, nowadays, many methods can help prevent these illnesses and reduce the overall morbidity and mortality rates from them.
HIV/AIDS
The state of Florida in general and the city of Miami in particular, have one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the entire country. However, the rates had been dropping until 2012, they began to rise. Now they reach quite a high level which causes many concerns. Thus, according to the statistics, the registered number of people living with HIV in 2015 was more than 25,000 in Miami-Dade County. The diseased are predominantly (70%) men, either black (43%) or Hispanic (44%). The mortality rates from AIDS were nearly 400 people in 2015 (“Miami,” 2015).
According to the experts, one of the reasons for such a rise in HIV/AIDS morbidity rates is that people are not afraid of dying from AIDS. Amazingly, due to the technological advancements in the sphere of medicine that have allowed to significantly reduce mortality rates from AIDS, people have become less careful about practicing the hygiene that prevents HIV. Another reason for such high rates of HIV morbidity is the problem of drug abuse in the community (“HIV,” 2017). Due to this problem, a greater number of people use such injected drugs as heroin, which promotes the spreading of HIV. One more reason for the increased HIV morbidity rates is the lack of special education in the community regarding the methods of safe sex and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Since the number of people with HIV/AIDS increases because they underestimated the seriousness of the disease, prevention strategies must be implemented. Thus, all three reasons can be managed using providing good education and increasing public awareness about the disease. Although the problem of drug abuse will probably remain, the rates of HIV will be reduced if people are aware of its consequences. Therefore, the plan of action regarding the prevention of HIV is focused on the suppression of the virus, staying in HIV/AIDS medical care, and starting treatment as soon as possible (Sweeney, 2015). Also, it is important to increase the availability of the programs for HIV prevention and organizing various events devoted to the problem of this disease.
Influenza
Influenza is one of the most widespread diseases in the world, which causes thousands of deaths per year, and the Miami-Dade Country is not an exception. In 2015, in the period of flu season, almost 3,000 people died of influenza in the entire state of Florida. This number is significant, and there is no guarantee that this will not happen in the future (“Flu activity,” 2017). That is why it is imperative to enable all possible ways of prevention and treatment of this disease to reduce this number.
The main cause of death from influenza is the complication in the form of pneumonia. Although not all influenza strains can cause pneumonia, the mortality rates are still high. The most virulent influenza strains are considered H1N1, H5N1, and H3N2. The complications may occur in the majority of cases, particularly in people with risk factors that include various comorbidities in the form of chronic diseases such as asthma, heart problems or diabetes, weak immune system due to the illnesses like HIV/AIDS or medications used to treat cancer, pregnancy, obesity, age, and poor living conditions (“Flu activity,” 2017). Thus, such people are usually the main target and victims of influenza.
Since it is impossible to predict the severity of a forthcoming flu season, it is crucial to implement all effective prevention strategies and prepare the best treatment methods available to make the mortality rates as minimal as possible (“Influenza prevention,” 2015). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) present a strategy consisting of three steps that focuses on how to manage influenza.
Thus, the first step and, at the same time, the best method to deal with influenza is vaccination. CDC urges people, especially those who belong to the group of risk, to get vaccinated before a flu season. Although vaccination does not guarantee that people will not be sick, it will make the disease milder and eliminate the chance of deadly complications. The second technique proposed by CDC is to maintain everyday preventive measures. This includes avoiding close contact with infected people, and if this is inevitable, a sick person must cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief. Additionally, washing hands and disinfecting and cleaning objects and surfaces is not less important. The third step recommended by CDC partially concerns prevention and treatment (“Influenza,” 2015). Unfortunately, antiviral drugs cannot be used instead of the vaccine, but they can slightly reduce the risk of being infected with flu and also used in the treatment of this and other viral diseases.
Syphilis
Overall, the morbidity rates of all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are one of the highest in Florida. In its turn, Miami-Dade Country has the highest syphilis morbidity rates out of all counties in Florida accounting for nearly 2,000 cases per year (“Syphilis,” 2017). Although the mortality rates from syphilis are not high, they are currently rising, which increases concerns about this disease.
The main reasons why the rates of syphilis morbidity are rising in the community are nearly the same as with HIV/AIDS. First of all, the lack of knowledge regarding the seriousness and the ways of transmission of the disease has a very negative effect (Chang, 2016). Second, drug abuse, especially the intravenous ones, and unsafe sex also promote the spreading of the disease.
Thus, the main strategies used to prevent syphilis are using latex condoms, avoiding unsafe sex, and periodically testing for the disease. Additionally, it is important to increase awareness of the problem of syphilis in the community as part of the prevention strategy. In terms of treatment, it is critical to visit a doctor as soon as possible, as, promptly, the survival rates are near to 100% (Chang, 2016). Also, it is necessary to organize various events and programs aimed at the problem of syphilis in the community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to emphasize that the prevention of a disease is always better than its treatment. According to the statistics, in Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade, there is a problem of dealing with three infectious diseases, namely, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and influenza. The main problem is in the rising rates of morbidity of the first two and the mortality rates of the last one are mostly because of the poor hygiene and the lack of knowledge in people as to their seriousness.
References
Chang, D. (2016). Syphilis cases rising in South Florida. Web.
Flu activity & surveillance. (2017). Web.
HIV. (2017).
Influenza prevention and treatment. (2015). Web.
Maimi (Miami-Dade County) HIV/AIDS statistics. (2015).
Sweeney, D. (2015). New HIV cases soar in Florida. Web.
Syphilis. (2017).