SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
4.5.7 INFECTIOUS DISEASE HAZARD BACKGROUND
Infectious, or communicable, diseases are conditions that result in clinically evident illness which are transmissible directly from one person to another or indirectly through vectors such as insects, air, water, blood, or other objects. Through the public health system and efforts including disease reporting, vaccinations, vector control, and effective treatments, many infectious diseases are well controlled in the United States and across North Carolina. However, control systems can fail, and when people come together from locations outside of the state, outbreaks can occur. Some of the most significant potential communicable diseases are described in this hazard profile. Serious infectious diseases usually do not occur on a regular or widespread basis, though some are more frequent. Influenza (Flu) – Unlike most illnesses, the flu is especially dangerous because it is spread through the air. A classic definition of influenza is a respiratory infection with fever. Each year, flu infects humans and spreads around the globe. There are three types of influenza virus: Types A, B, and C. Type A is the most common, most severe, and the primary cause of flu epidemics. Type B cases occur sporadically and sometimes as regional or widespread epidemics. Type C cases are quite rare and hence sporadic, but localized outbreaks have occurred. Seasonal influenza usually is treatable, and the mortality rate remains low. Each year, scientists estimate which particular strain of flu is likely to spread, and they create a vaccine to combat it. A flu pandemic occurs when the virus suddenly changes or mutates and undergoes an ―antigenic shift, permitting it to attach to a person’ s respiratory system and leave the body ’ s immune system defenseless against the invader. Whether natural or manmade, health officials say the threat of a dangerous new strain of flu virus in pandemic proportions is a very real possibility in the years ahead. Each year, there are hundreds of cases of influenza in North Carolina. Norovirus – Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States. The virus can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain, and is easily spread from person to person through contaminated food or water and by surface-to-surface contact. Those living or staying in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and other healthcare facilities such as hospitals are particularly vulnerable. Norovirus could also be a threat in the event of large public gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and festivals. North Carolina experiences norovirus outbreaks on an annual basis. No vaccine or treatment exists for the Norovirus, making it especially dangerous for the public in the event of an outbreak. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) – COVID-19 is caused by the Severe Acute Reparatory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 before quickly spreading worldwide. COVID-19 is transmitted when people breathe in air contaminated by respiratory droplets and small airborne particles containing the virus. Of those people who develop symptoms noticeable enough to be classified as patients, 81% develop mild to moderate symptoms (up to mild pneumonia), while 14% develop severe symptoms, and 5% develop critical symptoms (respiratory failure, shock, etc.). Tuberculosis – Tuberculosis, or TB, is the leading cause of infectious disease worldwide. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that most often affects the lungs. TB is an airborne disease spread by coughing or sneezing from one person to another. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world's population, approximately two billion people, has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not yet ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. In 2015, 10.4 million people fell ill with TB and 1.8 million died from the disease (including 0.4 million among people with HIV). Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries. Smallpox – Smallpox is a contagious, sometimes fatal, infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. Smallpox is caused by the variola virus that
Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 173
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