Unit 9 Discussion

Discussion Topic

All original responses to the Discussion Board are due by Saturday at 11:59 p.m. each unit. Original responses are required to be a minimum of 150 words. You are required to respond to a minimum of two classmates’ posts by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. each unit. Each response to classmates’ posts is required to be a minimum of 75 words. You are required to present information based on scholarly sources. Avoid such sources that are not deemed credible, such as Wikipedia and other online encyclopedia sources. Be sure to cite and reference all sources in APA writing style. You are encouraged to view the Discussion Board grading rubric located in the Course Resources to see how your work will be graded.

Would it not be great if all communicable diseases could be eradicated shortly after they were discovered? That would really decrease the burden of so many diseases we deal with today, such as HIV/AIDS and influenza. As you learned from the Reading, unfortunately there are many characteristics of every disease that must be studied and analyzed before eradication can be attempted. Furthermore, there are many diseases, just by their very nature, that cannot be eradicated.

For this Discussion Board, you will review Table 7-2 in Chapter 7: “Eradication of Human Diseases – What Makes it Possible?” Study the characteristics of diseases that are analyzed by public health researchers, and then select a communicable disease that interests you; choose one that none of your classmates have selected and that has not been used in Table 7-2 (Smallpox, Polio, Measles and HIV/AIDS).

There are many diseases for you to choose from. Some examples include Chickenpox, H1N1 Influenza, Pertussis, Mumps, sexually transmitted diseases, mosquito or tick-borne diseases, Tuberculosis, Ebola, and many others; this list of

2016 Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases

 from the CDC may assist in your choice.

Once you have selected a communicable disease, do some research to determine the characteristics of the disease you have selected. You can find excellent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at

Fast Stats: Infectious Disease

. 

Once you have researched your selected topic complete the following chart (

download an editable version here

). Then, copy and paste it to the Discussion Board. Below your completed chart, address the following questions about your selection: 

1. What is the burden of the disease you have selected (morbidity and mortality)?
2. Based upon your research, can the disease you have selected be eradicated at this time? Why or why not?