Airborne Pathogens except TB

Brainstorm How do you prevent an airborne disease?

Protect your self, protect your client Know your immunization status Are you up to date? Immunizations aren’t just for kids If you were exposed to an airborne pathogen, could you prove you were immune? Why does that even matter?

Pertussis Bacteria “Whooping Cough” Most severe in infants Severe cough in bursts Vomit after coughing Most severe in infants High rates in Clark County

Why is pertussis a problem? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuvn-vp5InE&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZV4IAHbC48&feature=youtu.be

Why are there high rates of pertussis? Vaccine is less protective than many vaccines Adult symptoms are mild, so they go out and spread it “I just have a little cold”

In 4 months we are going to have an outbreak that kills up to 49,000 people in the US?

Influenza Virus Small changes in virus every year Fever plus a cough and/or sore throat Between 5,000- 49,000 die every year in the US Young, old, immunocompromised

Influenza Have to be vaccinated every year? Antigenic Drift Small changes that result in need for new vaccination, last year’s vaccine probably gives some protection Why does influenza cause pandemics? Antigenic Shift Big changes and most people have no immunity

So how do we figure out what strains to use in the vaccine? Flu Season depends on where you live What is spreading in the southern hemisphere Our best scientific guess

Influenza in Animals? Pigs and Birds Mixing of viruses, think of as a virus breeding ground

Measles Virus Severe fever & rash illness Rare in the US due to vaccination Very contagious!!! High rate of death in those infected, relative to other infectious diseases

Measles Why haven’t we been able to eradicate it? Contagious before any symptoms The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine does not cause autism Andrew Wakefield Jenny McCarthy

Stop-Hammer Time