1. Role of Public Health in Prevention
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Role of Public Health in Prevention

2. PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TOWARD PREVENTION
Safe water: US water is purified through settling, filtration, and chlorination
Private wells must follow safe guidelines
Municipal water is usually tested
Sewage treatment and disposal is mandated by the US Government
Food safety: US has many standards, inspection plans and regulations dealing with food preparation, handling, and distribution
Milk is pasteurized and dated/analyzed periodically
Restaurants, meat-packing plants, and supermarkets are inspected regularly

3. Continued…
Animal control programs: domestic herds are inspected, rabid animals are destroyed, rat control programs in place in urban areas
Vaccination programs mandate that children be vaccinated prior to school
Pesticides to block vector-borne disease – those carried by mosquitos

4. Public health organizations enforce regulation, provide public health services
National Institutes of Health (NIH): supports health-related research
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): investigates disease outbreaks, publishes reports, sponsors education/research, reference labs
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): monitors safety of food, medicines, and other products
World Health Organization (WHO): provides international surveillance and control of disease

5. Benefits of public health research
New research techniques: allows for rapid identification
HIV protease inhibitors
Vaccine research
Identification of better preventative measures