Epidemic Flash

It is our tradition to care for and assist people in Health Management - “Epidemic Flash” is an endeavor to form a system on Internet to prevent epidemics and inform the concerned people through our website Rxhomeo.com. If an epidemic outbreaks in a certain region please mail us as soon as possible to protect precious human lives.

Epidemic Flash is being devised by our meticulous Research and Development effort. This is a continuous process and is possible by Establishing a strict epidemic monitoring system, so please tell us “What you think?” Please keep us informed about any threat to human kind in your area, IF you are the first one to know. We will flash the news on our website, such that preventive and curative measures can be taken against the forecasted or prevalent epidemic.

In the following text we talk about the Common Problems, Forecasting, Control and Disease Management associated with hazardous Epidemics. This will intensely help the world wide web in getting informed about such threats and help them understand how casualties and fatalities can be reduced.

Common Problems

1. Epidemics not recognized early enough due to inadequate diagnosis, reporting or surveillance.
2. Insufficient Preventive drugs and ancillary supplies to cope with increased demand.
3. Insufficient manpower, transport and logistical capabilities to cope with increased demands.
4. Inadequate monitoring and post-epidemic assessment means that lessons are not learned.
5. Roles and responsibilities at national, regional and district levels poorly defined.
6. Plans of action poorly developed or absent and emergency task force not in place.

Epidemic Examples

Northeast Kenya, Year 1998. This semi-arid region experienced a serious malaria epidemic in 1998 due to very high rainfall attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. Over 500 mm of rain in November 1997 resulted in widespread flooding, followed 3 months later by a big rise in malaria cases. The estimated mortality rate from malaria during the epidemic was 7 per 10 000 population per day. Problems included: Medical supplies were insufficient and normal supply routes impassable; no epidemic response plan existed; the nomadic population was difficult to reach; lack of coordination of activities of Ministry of Health, international organizations and NGOs. Control: Procurement of emergency anti-malarial drugs; Provision of mobile clinics to provide outreach services to communities; Procurement and distribution of 20 000 insecticide-impregnated bed nets; Residual house spraying of approximately 6 000 houses in April (although the epidemic was already in decline by this time).

South India, Year 2000. Japanese Enchaphylytes (Common name Brain Fever) affected Many states of South India; there were a high number of Fatalities among children below 14 Years. From times immemorial, in this regions the use of Homoeopathic Medicine “Belladonna 200” has been common as a Preventive Medicine for JE. All the PHC’s (Public Health Center’s) and Government Homeopathic Dispensaries, Homoeopathic Pharmacies, and Doctors etc. vigorously distributed and administered this Medicine as a Preventive. There was a record decline in the ratio of fatalities before and after the administration of Belladonna 200. 

Forecasting an Epidemic

Epidemic Forecasting allows early access to information on changes in risk factors and rapid mobilization of resources to minimize the perils of epidemics.

In the early stages of an epidemic the following are important:
1.       Surveillance and Monitoring of indicators should allow the early detection of an epidemic situation. 
2.      Confirm and quantify the epidemic (includes number of cases, communities affected).
3.      Assess resources and logistics required to control the epidemic (including the need for emergency vector control, drug supplies, emergency staff, supplies and finance).
4.      Notification and declaration

Rapid mobilization and implementation of an epidemic response will reduce morbidity and mortality. The speed and adequacy of the response may depend on the existence of a response plan and an emergency coordinating task force. Emergency taskforces may include representatives of different governmental sectors including Ministry of Health, Ministries of Education, Finance, Works, Transport and Communication, Agriculture, Water, Defense, Private practitioners, Internet, communities, civil society, and international organizations (WHO, UNICEF etc.), bilateral organizations and NGOs.

Epidemic Control

An effective system for distribution and administration of preventive drugs to the affected communities must be developed, along with orientation of health personnel to reinforce correct diagnosis and treatment of infected cases, and community awareness campaigns. Epidemics create a demand for Preventive Curative and drugs in excess of normal supplies and the acquisition & delivery of these may be a serious problem requiring immediate attention.

Disease Management

Prophylaxis Personnel coming from non-epidemic areas and pregnant women within epidemic affected areas should take prophylaxis in accordance with national treatment policies.

Patients should generally be treated in accordance with the national treatment policy. The choice of drugs administered must depend on: the severity of the disease, treatment efficacy, clinical response, availability, staff capability, ease of administration, compliance, cost and side effects. Treatment of severe and complicated Epidemics requires intensive medical and nursing care. Ancillary supplies, including dextrose, blood transfusion sets, saline, may also be required. Depending upon the severity and location of the epidemic it may be necessary to establish temporary health posts including drug supply centers, outreach clinics, temporary laboratories and emergency field hospitals.

Rxhomeo.com is a potential website to reach International Advisors, NGOs and other funding organizations who might play a significant role in developing the capacity of national health services to predict, monitor and control epidemics. You can use Rxhomeo.com wherever possible to encourage governments to develop epidemic response plans with clear definition of roles and responsibilities.

Help us in our attempt to educate and inform the sometimes-ignorant society about the perils of such brutal epidemics. With your little time you can use Rxhomeo.com to inform the rest of the world about any such likely threat. International organizations could use your information and they may assist the community with procurement of contingency drug and ancillary supplies and they can provide Funding as well, to establish early-warning systems (Like this), including climate monitoring, sentinel clinics in epidemic-prone areas. It is vital to maintain sufficient stocks of Preventive and Curative drugs to cope with potential epidemics. 

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