NUR 4681 – Deliverable 1 – Foundations of Global Health Infographic
Influenza is a serious global health threat that impacts all countries. In this interconnected world, the next influenza pandemic is a matter of when not if. and a severe pandemic is believed by many experts to be potentially the most devastating global health event with far-reaching consequences. Adults aged 65 years and older include a large and diverse group of people worldwide. This is why now, more than ever, we need your support in reducing the burden of seasonal influenza for our vulnerable elderly population. My proposal will include strategies that build on the success of disease surveillance and attain the highest possible influenza prevention, control, and preparedness to safeguard the health of all people (WHO, 2021).
Influenza is a common communicable disease. Every year, there are an estimated 1 billion cases of influenza worldwide. Three to five million severe cases, and 290,000-650,000 influenza-related respiratory deaths. All age groups can be affected but some groups are more at risk than others. People at greater risk of severe disease or complications when infected are pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic medical conditions (WHO, 2021).
It has been recognized for many years that people 65 years and older are at high risk of developing serious complications from influenza compared with young, healthy adults. This risk is due in part to changes in immune defenses with increasing age. The prevalence of chronic diseases changes as age increases beyond 65 years, as does frailty and functional status. This places the population of 65 years and older to bear the greatest burden of severe influenza disease. By evaluating age-related differences, we hope to better inform surveillance of influenza rates, prevention, and treatment efforts for adults aged 65 years and older (Paget, 2019).
NUR 4681 – Deliverable 1 – Foundations of Global Health Infographic
Successful containment or control of pandemic influenza will require a system for outbreak detection. Disease surveillance includes rapid data collection, analysis, assessment, and timely reporting. Early detection of the start of a pandemic is crucial to rapidly implement measures to stop the pandemic at its source and to prevent millions of deaths, social disruption, and economic loss. As part of national pandemic preparedness planning, each country should prepare for enhanced surveillance to detect the emergence of a new disease, characterize the disease (epidemiology, clinical manifestations, severity), and monitor its evolution.
Standardized and coordinated international information sharing is crucial for crisis management at global and national levels. National authorities will need to know how the pandemic is evolving not only in their own country but also in neighboring countries and continents. Sharing of information at a global level will be a benefit to all. The continual flow and aggregation of information provided by individual countries will contribute to the development of a global picture (Paget, 2019).
The Centers for Disease Control has implemented a disease surveillance program that is well worth considering. Flu-Surv-Net is an influenza hospitalization surveillance network. in older age groups (65 years and older) to better inform public health prevention and response efforts. Flu-Surv-Net data tracker covers approximately 9% of the U.S. population, or about 27 million people to estimate the burden of influenza hospitalizations in the United States. Fluview is another surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division. Public health nurses collaborate with the CDC to collect and analyze data for a weekly influenza surveillance report (CDC, 2021).
WHO, World Health Organization, in collaboration with other partners, monitors influenza activity globally, recommends seasonal influenza vaccine compositions twice a year for the Northern and Southern hemisphere influenza seasons, and guides countries in tropical and subtropical areas to choose vaccine formulations (Northern hemisphere vs. Southern hemisphere). This makes them well suited to launch the program because they support decisions for the timing of vaccination campaigns and support Member States to develop prevention and control strategies.
WHO works to strengthen national, regional, and global influenza response capacities including diagnostics, antiviral susceptibility monitoring, disease surveillance, and outbreak responses, and to increase vaccine coverage among high-risk groups and prepare for the next influenza pandemic (WHO, 2018).
NUR 4681 – Deliverable 1 – Foundations of Global Health Infographic
Healthcare workers are at high risk of acquiring influenza virus infection due to increased exposure to the patients and the risk of further spread, particularly to vulnerable individuals. Misinformation or lack of information at the global or country level will inevitably result in delays in response, the spread of damaging rumors, inadequate resource allocation, misdirected efforts, and ultimately, unnecessary loss of life. The continual flow and communication of information provided by individual countries will contribute to the development of a global picture that will allow healthcare providers and public health authorities to modify their strategies for case management, community mitigation, and health resource allocation
I propose we utilize a surveillance program such as the CDC’s Flu-Surv-Net data tracker on a global scale. We also employ public health nurses as an important source of information and education for healthcare providers and communities. In the general population, immunization against influenza is considered the most important intervention to control seasonal, epidemic, and pandemic influenza. Understanding the chain of infection is a foundation for sharing accurate information to prevent the spread of communicable diseases (CDC, 2021).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Achievements I Public Health. Control of Infections. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/.
World Health Organization. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
influenzas–(seasonal)
Paget, John. (2019). Global mortality associated with seasonal influenza epidemics: New burden estimates and predictors from the Glamor Project. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31673337
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Question 
You are a nurse working for a non-governmental organization (NGO) that trains volunteers to participate in global health initiatives.
NUR 4681 – Deliverable 1 – Foundations of Global Health Infographic
During the first week of training, volunteers are introduced to the foundations of global health. You are asked to design an infographic on the foundations of global health for a group of new volunteers.