Anti-epidemic measures in the outbreak

Repressive anti-epidemic measures are taken if the disease has already occurred. We also call them anti-epidemic measures in the outbreak, with the outbreak being the source and its immediate surroundings . These measures are:


 * Early and correct diagnosis of the disease – is a basic prerequisite for initiating rapid and effective repressive measures. This includes a proper epidemiological anamnesis, clinical examination a laboratory examination (microbiological, serological, biochemical, etc.)
 * Reporting of patients and suspects of infection – immediately after diagnosis or suspicion of infectious disease, the doctor who examined him first reports to the epidemiological department of the territorially competent medical institution by sending the appropriate form, in case of highly contagious diseases or in case of epidemic report directly to the ministry healthcare.
 * Patient isolation – is any separation of patients, carriers and convalescents in order to prevent the transmission of the disease to susceptible individuals. The method is determined by the attending physician or epidemiologist.
 * Epidemiological investigation in the outbreak – carried out immediately (preferably an interview with the patient), the extent of the outbreak is defined by place and time. The source of the infection and other potentially infected people must be traced; basic data on patients and their contacts and data (age, sex, onset of illness, residence, profession, etc.) are collected to develop epidemic curves and to express a working hypothesis about the source and route of transmission.

Anti-epidemic regime
It is a set of measures that we take in an outbreak in order to eradicate it as soon as possible:
 * active search for infected and suspected infections (possible sources),
 * quarantine measures for suspects in the form of medical surveillance (regular examination and observation during the incubation since the last case), increased medical surveillance (in addition to monitoring also prohibition of certain risky activities), quarantine (isolation in the sense of WHO; cholera, plague, yellow fever),
 * focal disinfection ongoing around the patient during the period of EA excretion; final after transport or death of the patient,
 * active and passive immunization according to circumstances,
 * chemoprophylaxis especially ATB or antimalarials,
 * control of basic hygiene measures, such as drinking water supply, food, waste disposal, waste water disposal,
 * health education is an instruction for people with disabilities and endangered about appropriate behaviors.


 * Monitoring and evaluation of anti-epidemic measures' – performed and evaluated daily by an epidemiologist', or supplemented or changed according to the situation. The effectiveness of the measures is assessed from a health and economic point of view.

Measures must be feasible, easy to implement, understandable and effective.

Epidemiological surveillance
The word surveillance means vigilance or supervision in translation, but the translation is inaccurate. It represents a comprehensive and systematic acquisition of all available information about the occurrence of a certain disease or health disorder in the population and at the same time a study of all conditions and factors that affect the development and occurrence of a given disease.

It includes long-term comprehensive programs in which experts from various medical (epidemiology, microbiology, hygiene, clinic) and non-medical (statistics, veterinary medicine, ecology) disciplines participate, and the epidemiologist usually has "mixer keys".

Surveillance takes place in 3 consecutive stages:


 * 1) obtaining the necessary data – number of patients, deaths, information on infectious agents, clinical information, monitoring of vaccination and collective immunity, monitoring of animal diseases in zoonoses, data on vectors,
 * 2) analysis of the collected data – evaluation of information and proposals for measures, during long-term surveillance it is also possible to make a prognosis of the occurrence of the disease in the near future,
 * 3) providing qualified information to all field workers to improve their own performance.

Surveillance can be performed on various large areas, they are usually performed on the territory of the entire state (in the Czech Republic poliomyelitis, pertussis, diphteria, measles, viral hepatitis, foodborne infections, influenza).

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