Introduction
Infectious diseases are diseases which are clinically proved to be caused by pathogenic microbial organisms ,such has viruses , bacteria, multicultural parasites, protozoa, fungi and deviant proteins well-known as prions. These pathogenic microbial organisms are capable of causing disease in both plants animals. Infectious diseases are sometimes referred to as contagious diseases or communicable diseases.
Ways in which infectious diseases are transmitted
Transmission of infectious diseases may arise through different mechanisms depending on the type of diseases, for instance, infectious Respiratory diseases are usually transmitted through contact with infected droplets by coughing, kissing, singing, sneezing and talking. Gastrointestinal infectious diseases are frequently transmitted through ingestion of infected water and food with infectious pathogenic microbes. Infectious Sexually transmitted illnesses are usually transmitted through unprotect sex with infected person with infectious disease. Furthermore these diseases are easily transmitted through contact with infected objects such as towels and coins. In addition infectious pathogenic microbes may also penetrate through the skin surfaces. Finally infectious diseases can be transmitted through biological or mechanical vectors such have mosquitoes and butterflies respectfully (Weber, 2004).
Importance of vaccines and immunization in prevention of infectious diseases
Vaccination and immunization have been used globally in preventing, eradicating and controlling infectious diseases ,for instance the world health organization have eradicated successfully small pox disease, in the world today through immunizations programmer and campaigns. Vaccination and immunization help in preventing the occurrence of a disease and if they do, disease burden is reduced, and death is avoided.
Vaccines work in such way that, when a person is immunized against a particular disease, the person reacts to the foreign antigens by producing antibodies which fight against the foreign antigens, in addition memory cells are created which assist the immunity system to fight against the new infection attacks of a that particular disease, these memories normally last for many years or even for a life time (Slenczka, 1999).
Importance of emerging and re-emerging diseases
Emerging and re-emerging infections are diseases of public health importance and their infection s occurrence rates in humans’ beings is increasing every year and even intimidates to rise in the near future. Examples of these diseases are bird flue, dengue fever, rabies, malaria, Ebola and many other diseases of infectious origin. Many aspects, or a group of factors, contribute to the emergency and re-emergency of these infectious diseases for instance societal factors, availability and accessibility of health care, human behavior, food production and environmental and climatically changes.
New infectious illness may materialize from genetic modification in existing pathogenic organisms; well known infectious diseases may be extended to new populations and geographic regions and; and due changes in climatically conditions increasing the variability of humans to infectious diseases, unknown infectious disease may emerge in humans beings. Furthermore environmental changes many favor the breeding of disease vectors and animal reservoirs paving way for the emerging of unknown infectious diseases. Re-emergence infectious diseases come as a result of failure of public health measures put in place to prevent and control the infectious disease or development of antimicrobial confrontation (Daszak, 2003).
Impact of spread of infectious diseases on history
In the early eleven century the contagious nature of infectious disease was discovered by Alī Abū. Quarantine was introduced by Ali Abu has a way of limiting the rate of transmission of infectious diseases in circa 1020. In the fourth teen century khatima and ibn khatib imagined that infectious diseases materialize as result of contagious microorganisms which get the way into the human body. During Renaissance in Europe these ideas were accepted by many. Leeuwenhoek Anton made advances in this field by being the first scientist to view microorganism.
Louis Pasteur came up with a vaccine for rabies after finding out that infectious disease come about a result of infectious agent. Jonas Salk Edward Jenner and Albert Sabin came up with vaccines for polio and smallpox, which as resulted in eradication of small pox disease in the world. Later antibiotic Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. In addition Sulphonamides was developed by Domagk Gerhard, which is used has antibacterial drug (Krauss, 2000).
Conclusion
The incidences of Infectious diseases are increasing. As Public Health play their part in trying to control and prevent these infections, more do appear (David, 2007).
References
- Daszak, B. (2003). Emerging Re-emerging Infectious Diseases. New York: McGraw Hill printing press.
- David, C. (2007). Diseases of public Health importance. USA: McGraw Hill.
- Krauss, M. (2000). The History of Infectious diseases, Oxford: Oxford University press.
- Slenczka, A. (1999). Importance of vaccination and immunization in controlling and preventing Infectious diseases. New York: Stone press.
- Weber, K. (2004). Ways through which Infectious Diseases are transmitted in Human Population. Harvard Press.