What is an Epidemic?

By Vartika Lal 7 Minutes Read

Meaning

Disease that may be affecting many persons at an identical time, & even spreading from person to person or in other words is contagious in a vicinity where the disease is not enduringly predominant. It is tremendously predominant & extensive which can also be said as impermanent pervasiveness of a disease.

Definition

An epidemic is the abrupt spread of disease to a bulky sum total of people in a given populace contained by a brief period of time. An attack rate in surplus of 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic

Epidemics of contagious disease are frequently instigated by additional than a few factors together with a change in the ecosystem of the multitude population (e.g., augmented stress or upsurge in the concentration of a vector species), a genomic change in the pathogen reservoir or the overview of an emerging pathogen to a host population (by crusade of pathogen or host). Commonly, an epidemic transpires when host immunity to either an unadventurous pathogen or afresh emerging novel pathogen is suddenly reduced below that found in the endemic steadiness and the transmission verge is surpassed.

Impact

On every occasion there is an outburst of an epidemic, the government can levy the Act if it thinks that everyday necessities of the law, which are in force, are deficient to contain an epidemic. The Act authorizes a person to take certain dealings and recommend provisional guidelines to prevent the outburst of a disease or its spread.

The provisions of the Act state that the government can fine people or imprison them for violating rules and regulations, set to comprehend the outbreak. Section 3 of the Act articulates any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have dedicated an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Essential elements

A prearranged step-by-step tactic is indispensable in the inspecting of healthcare accompanying outbursts. Even though steps are accessible in a precise order, many steps may occur at the same time and some steps may not be desirable.

A stepwise approach to outburst investigations includes:

• Surveillance
• Finding of a “problem”
• Significant existence of an outbreak
• Exclusion of pseudo outbreak
• Defining case
• Case ascertainment
• Associating pre-epidemic and epidemic period rates (confirming presence of an outburst)
• Epidemiological studies
• Line listing (a listing of cases and limited factors to contribute in creating hypothesis of etiology)
• Epidemic curve
• Hypothesizing for a cause
• Comparative studies (risk factor assessment)- discretionary
• Case Control
• Cohort study
• Supplementary studies-optional
• Review practices
• Review of literature for plausible etiologies/mechanisms
• Observational trainings
• Culture studies
• Segregate typing
• Interventions/controller procedures
• Assess interferences
• Sharing conclusions
• The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

 THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT, 1897 (ACT NO. 3 OF 1897 1 [4th February, 1897.])

An Act to provide for the healthier deterrence of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases. HOWEVER, it is convenient to deliver for the better stoppage of the spread of dangerous epidemic disease; It is hereby enacted as follows:

(1)  Short Title and Extent:

This Act might be named as the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

(2)  It Ranges to The Whole of India Except 3 The Territories Part B States.

(2A) Powers of the Central Government:

When the Central Government is satisfied that India or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease and that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, the Central Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving at any port in 5 the territories to which this Act extends and for such detention thereof, or of any person intending to sail therein, or arriving thereby, as may be necessary.

(3)  Penalty:

Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section-188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

(4)  Protection to Persons Acting Under Act:

No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this Act.

Origin

The term epidemic originates from a term form accredited to Homer’s Odyssey, which well along took its medicinal connotation from the Epidemics, a discourse by Hippocrates. Previously Hippocrates, epidemios, epidemeo, epidamos, and other alternatives had meanings comparable to the existing descriptions of “indigenous” or “endemic”. Thucydides’ explanation of the Plague of Athens is well-thought-out one of the most basic accounts of a disease epidemic. By the early 17th century, the terms endemic and epidemic denoted to conflicting circumstances of population-level disease, with the endemic condition at low rates of manifestation and the epidemic condition widespread. The term “epidemic” has turn out to be ardently charged.

Vartika Lal