Timeline for the History of Public Health and Epidemiology

A lot of changes and development in public health and Epidemiology has taken place since 1988 to date. In 1999, epidemiology involved in the study of violence and 1990s there was the study of molecular and genetics to discover genes that increase the risk of contracting a disease (Cutler, 2005). During the same period, infectious diseases could still provide some challenges to epidemiologist because more contagious agents of infectious diseases even emerge such as Ebola virus and HIV. These viruses were discovered in the 1990s, and their vaccines could not be found quickly. In the same period, the severe acute respiratory syndrome was also observed.

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Epidemiologists also investigated the outbreak of Ebola virus in 1995 in African countries. It was done to find its cause, prevention, and drug or vaccines that could be used to prevent its spread (David, 2007). In the same period, the reason for conducting HIV testing to all pregnant women in the World before giving birth. Furthermore, AZT therapy was also found by epidemiologists for HIV -infected pregnant women to minimize the transmission of the virus into unborn babies.

There were other epidemiology studies which were completed in 1997. In this period there was advocacy and education about folic acid used in the prevention of birth defects. There was also the identification of Fenfluramine used by women for family planning (Offit, 2007). This was determined to control the growth of population and ensure that families give birth to the number of children they can take care of.

In 1999, there was an establishment of National Pharmaceutical Stockpile which was introduced to control drugs, vaccines, and other medical products required for emergency services. In the same period, there was an establishment of CDC laboratory Response network to ensure there is a prompt response to chemical and biological threats and other infectious diseases. In the same year, there was an identification of West Nile Virus in New York, and healthcare researchers also found a way in which this virus could be responded to in case of its emergence.

In November 2000, the vaccine of yellow fever was introduced into the routine childhood vaccinations. This step was significant in the prevention of the spread of Yellow fever in Americans and other African countries (Offit, 2007). This strategy aimed to reduce the number of children prone to Yellow fever and ensure that there is no future attach of yellow fever. In the same period, there were two virus substrains which were discovered for the formulation of yellow fever vaccines. They included 17DD which was found in Brazil and 17D-204 used in the production of vaccines used in the USA.

In November 2001, there was severe research on how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as TB and STDs by identifying the infected persons before they infect other people (Armelagos, 2005). Other studies involve the discovery of drugs that can be used to prevent and treat TB and STDs. The purpose of these discoveries was to ensure there is the complete eradication of TB and STD in the World.

In November 2002 researchers discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Southern China, and it was meant for use in Canada and USA. It was found to treat tow patients who had typical pneumonia whose cause has never been known. The purpose of SARS was to prevent the spread of this disease by air because it could be contracted by many people living together.

In 2007, there was a program aimed at eradicating malaria in the Globe. There was a lot of research and development such as the use of treated mosquito nets and other methods. Past experiences with the malaria control mainly did it. During this study, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane was deployed and other appropriate synthetic insecticides. These techniques were had been used in the 20th century was still applied in the 21st century although they were employed in a different form.

In 2005, there was an epidemiological study on how to prevent the spread and control of HIV in the World. It also identifies ways in which safe sexual practices can be encouraged. They came up with strategies such as the use of Condom, abstinence from sex and the use of screened donated blood (Offit, 2007). Other interventions that were discovered included the prevention of sharing needles and ensure that mothers can give birth to children without HIV. They found that the use of antiretroviral could prevent this. These strategies were perceived as the primary ways which can be used to avoid the spread of HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, there were some discoveries which were made on the way to lengthen the lifespan of infected persons (Armelagos, 2005). These included the use of new antiretroviral drugs which was first used in developed countries, but currently, they are used in all countries in the World. In 2010 there was a significant contribution of epidemiologists to try to understand AIDs pandemic in the World. A lot of research was taken to study the effect of HIV and how best its drugs can be discovered.

References

Armelagos, G. (2005). Evolutionary, historical and political economic perspectives on health anddisease. Social Science Medicine, 61(4), 755-765.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention_timeline

Cutler, D. (2005). The role of public health improvements in health advances: The twentieth-century United States.Demography, 42(1), 1-22.

Harper, K., and Armelagos, G. (2010). The changing disease-scape in the third epidemiological transition.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7:675-697.

David Bornstein (2007). How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas New York: Oxford University Press pp. 250

Offit, Paul A. (2007). The Cutter Incident: How America's First Polio Vaccine Led to the Growing Vaccine Crisis. Yale University Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-300-12605-0.