Epidemiology Report

            The Weekly Epidemiology Report published on January 11^th, 2013 contains information regarding the monitoring and evaluation of preventative chemotherapy. According to Crompton (2006) preventative chemotherapy is the use of anthelminthic drugs, either alone or in combination, as a public health tool against helminth infections. Promoted by the World Health Organization and fundamental for ascertain program progress toward achieving established goals, monitoring and evaluating preventative chemotherapy activities can lead to enhanced effectiveness of health care and better use of limited resources thereby allowing more at risk individuals to be reached. (World Health Organization, 2013) Core sets of standardized tools are utilized to ensure reports are conducted properly and thus allowing a more accurate specification of intended diseases and a higher quality of the interventions involved.  

            All drug coverage reports, disease-specific guidelines, and data pertaining to monitoring and evaluation of preventative chemotherapy is provided in the public domain of the World Health Organization website. Although significant efforts are required to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of preventative chemotherapy, more than 700 million individuals have been reported as having received preventative treatment at least once in a twelve month period. (World Health Organization, 2013) The study of a large number of individuals over an extended period of time matched with reliable monitoring and evaluation practices will generate conclusive evidence in determining the desired impact of preventative chemotherapy. Up-to-date epidemiology progress information is imperative in estimating the annual percentage of the population that has or potentially will need to receive treatment. However, while substantial progress has been made in recent years, a number of key challenges remain to be overcome in order to further accelerate roll out and scale-up of preventative chemotherapy interventions worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2013)   

            After reading the issue that epidemiologists are concerned about this week it is clear to say that the measurements and information provided by investigations through ways of monitoring and evaluating preventative chemotherapy treatment is important in the effort to control and eliminate specific diseases. Despite the need for a few minor improvements and availability of more resources, monitoring and evaluation practices are distinguished as an essential component of the global response to treatment coverage.  The continuation of these practices will allow for great success in achieving any milestones and goals set for the future.

For more information on this article please visit the references below:

Crompton, D. (2006). Preventive chemotherapy in human helminthiasis: Coordinated use of anthelminthic drugs in control interventions- a manual for health professionals and programme manager. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

World Health Organization. (2013). Monitoring and evaluation of preventive chemotherapy. Weekly Epidemiological Record, 88(2), 17-28. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/wer/2013/wer8802.pdf

FDA NEWS RELEASE

          Contaminated food products such as eggs, beef, cantaloupe, lettuce and various other produce that may carry food borne illnesses like those of E. coli, Listeria or Salmonella have taken the spotlight in the media within the past couple of years. Although simple measures such as washing your hands before and after preparing foods, cooking all foods thoroughly, and refrigerating foods within an hour after cooking them are common knowledge among most American households the problem essentially starts behind the scenes way before that product is anywhere near your fork or mouth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency developed to promote public health by assuring safety, effectiveness and security of our nation’s food supply, has proposed two new rules that will help prevent future occurrences of these and potentially other foodborne illnesses through their extensive outreach to produce industries in various levels of local, state, government and international facilities. (Burgess, 2013)    

            Every individual is vulnerable to foodborne illnesses and sometimes the bacteria from the illness may already be on the food products when you purchase them from your local grocery store. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (2011), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each year in the United States an estimated 48 million individuals will fall victim to a foodborne illness and nearly 3,000 deaths will occur. The two proposals require evidence based science standards to be established and preventive controls to be part of the norm across all sectors of the food systems. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2013) With the new preventive guidelines that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing, the decrease in foodborne illness can reduce outbreaks and recalls of food products, lower medical costs, and improve the overall health status of the general public. The two food safety proposals are up for discussion and open for public comment for the next 120 days. Once the comment period is closed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff, with the compliance and implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), will review the public comments which will allow them to better enable how the rules can best work together to create an integrated, effective and efficient food safety system. (Burgess, 2013) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration did research, held meetings and visited multiple produce farms, industries and facilities before composing these new rules to avoid unnecessary controversy and to protect the food safety of all Americans.          

           

For more information on this article and proposed rules please visit:

Burgess, S. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2013). FDA proposes new food safety standards for foodborne illness prevention and produce safety. Retrieved from website: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm334156.htm

Food Safety and Inspection Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2011). Foodborne illness: What consumers need to know. Retrieved from website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/Foodborne_Illness_What_Consumers_Need_to_Know/index.asp

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2013). Federal register notice for the proposed rule “current good manufacturing practice and hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for human food” (FDA-2011-N-0920). Retrieved from website: http://www.ofr.gov/(X(1)S(v3yf3je4uhgifjgft2sscuim))/OFRUpload/OFRData/2013-00125_PI.pdf