Introduction
The location analyzed within the frame of the given assignment is Miami, Florida. There is a range of diseases that are currently affecting the community, but the given paper pays close attention to three of them: seasonal influenza, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and Zika fever. The ZIP code of the location is 33101.
Zika Fever or Zika Virus Disease
Zika fever that is also called Zika virus disease presents a dangerous condition that is difficult to be diagnosed. Many people who are already infected report the absence of obvious symptoms pointing at the disease. Despite that, the signs of the disease that can be manifested in infected people include irritated eyes, strong muscle pain, and fever. In 2016, it was reported that the local transmission zone in Miami was expanding and it had a negative influence on local travel businesses and citizens. Nowadays, it is believed that the risk level is much lower, but precautionary measures still need to be considered by local citizens and travelers. Among the categories of citizens who need to pay focused attention to the measures, some pregnant women and women are getting ready for pregnancy. The cases of Zika fever became more common in 2016, according to CDC (“Advice for people living in or traveling to South Florida,” 2017).
The plan of action allowing to reduce the risk for people in Miami to get infected needs to be focused on citizens’ awareness of the disease and their access to diagnostic services. According to HP 2020 Objectives, required actions related to diseases that can be sexually transmitted should include the promotion of contraception among adolescents and adult people. More than that, it is important to ensure that people can recognize the most common symptoms of the disease and know about the ways to get infected. Moreover, specialists from CDC propose a range of special measures for pregnant women who face increased risks. The proposed measures include Zika virus testing for all pregnant women regardless of the presence of specific symptoms (Meaney-Delman et al., 2016).
AIDS
Florida belongs to the number of states with the highest HIV and AIDS rates. The number of diagnosed cases exceeds 110,000 people, about one percent of people who have AIDS are younger than 16 (“Florida: State health profile,” 2015). As for Miami in particular, it is named among the riskiest places for HIV and AIDS in the United States. Speaking about the disease, it is necessary to mention that the risks of being infected are not the same for people of different ethnicities. Thus, it is known that the majority of people diagnosed with AIDS in Florida are Black (these patients constitute almost half of people with confirmed AIDS diagnosis). Considering racial disparities that still exist in the state, focused attention must be paid to increasing awareness of AIDS transmission among the non-white population of the state. The influence of the disease on the community is difficult to overestimate as it significantly decreases the quality of life and causes an increased lethality.
When it comes to the plan of action that could reduce the number of new cases of HIV and AIDS in Miami, Florida, the attention is to be paid to the popularization of contraception among categories of people susceptible to the disease. The number of unsafe sexual contacts should be reduced to prevent further spread of the infection. In particular, contraception propaganda messages should be targeted at young men (both heterosexual and homosexual) and drug users. Also, it can be necessary to take additional measures to inform the community about the disease. It may include the dissemination of printed materials that are to encourage young people to stop practicing risky sexual contacts and keep track of their HIV status. To fulfill this goal, all people living in Miami should be provided with access to HIV testing, and possible disparities should be estranged.
Seasonal Influenza
Influenza-related complications (such as inflammation of vital organs) cause thousands of deaths every year (“Estimating seasonal influenza-associated deaths,” 2016). In Florida, increased activity of the disease started a month ago; nowadays, up to forty percent of the population suffer from flu every year (“Influenza,” 2017). Seasonal influenza can be listed among the most common infectious diseases in the United States that have dangerous consequences in case of complications.
The plan of action that can be used to reduce the number of cases of seasonal influenza and, therefore, flu-related complications in Miami includes a few important points. First, HP 2020 Objectives state that more people should be encouraged to get vaccinated due to the increasing risks of complications. It is especially important for children, older adults, and people who have chronic respiratory diseases and immune function problems. Also, precautionary measures such as self-hygiene and decreased contact with ill people should be promoted.
Conclusion
In the end, infectious diseases in Miami, Florida that need to be paid focused attention to include Zika fever, AIDS, and seasonal influenza. All these diseases affect the population of the chosen location as they increase the number of deaths among young people and adults. In each of the cases, an effective plan should include measures aimed at increasing access to diagnostic and healthcare services and the dissemination of relevant information.
References
Advice for people living in or traveling to South Florida. (2017). Web.
Estimating seasonal influenza-associated deaths in the United States. (2016).
Florida: State health profile. (2015).
Immunization and infectious diseases. (n.d.).
Influenza. (2017).
Meaney-Delman, D., Rasmussen, S. A., Staples, J. E., Oduyebo, T., Ellington, S. R., Petersen, E. E.,… Jamieson, D. J. (2016). Zika virus and pregnancy: What obstetric health care providers need to know. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127(4), 642-648.