Community Health
Look into health data for your community (either at the country, state, city, or county level). You can look at statistics from your local health department or websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find a disease that is emerging in your community and discuss. Give the rates and the duration of the increase of this disease. What population does this disease affect most? Discuss what you think can be done to prevent further increase in this disease
Emerging Disease in the Community
One emerging disease in the community is monkeypox. Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis that can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, lymphadenopathy, chills, exhaustion, and a rash. The rash typically starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. The rash can be flat or raised and can look like pimples, blisters, or scabs. Monkeypox is usually a mild illness, but it can be serious in some cases.
Rates and Duration of Increase
The rates of monkeypox have been increasing in the community in recent months. In the United States, there have been over 4,000 cases of monkeypox reported so far in 2022. This is a significant increase from the 47 cases reported in the entire country in 2021. The increase in monkeypox cases is likely due to several factors, including:
- Increased travel and transportation between countries
- Increased contact with animals that carry the monkeypox virus
- The relaxation of public health measures that were put in place to control the spread of COVID-19
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick with monkeypox
- Practicing safe sex
- Getting vaccinated against monkeypox