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  • Chapter 17 - The Health Aspects of Epidemics and Pandemics

  • from Section 2 - Clinical Aspects of Traumatic Injuries, Epidemics, and Pandemics
  • Edited by Richard Williams, University of South Wales, Verity Kemp, Independent Health Emergency Planning Consultant, Keith Porter, University of Birmingham, Tim Healing, Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, John Drury, University of Sussex
  • Book:
    Major Incidents, Pandemics and Mental Health
    Published online:
    11 January 2024
    Print publication:
    01 February 2024, pp 118-125

  • Summary

    Infectious diseases that can spread rapidly have always been able to cause outbreaks. Rapid international travel has allowed what were once localised public health issues to extend beyond national borders and develop into global pandemics. The challenges posed by a novel disease may be enormous, and include initial recognition in a previously unexposed population, development of a clinical case definition allowing accurate descriptive epidemiology of its progression in the community, laboratory diagnosis of a novel pathogen, establishment of evidence-based management protocols for patient care, identification of routes of transmission allowing targeted public health interventions, and development of therapeutic interventions to reduce transmission or prevent severe effects. The consequences of large-scale outbreaks extend beyond their direct impact on human health. They may have economic effects as a direct result of illness or of control measures, and impacts on social wellbeing, including damage to national and local infrastructure, civil disruption, or even conflict.