NORTH AMERICA

When the mosquito sucks the

blood of other birds, humans,
horses, or other vertebrate
animals, the virus passes
from the mosquito's salivary
glands into the bloodstream
of the bitten animal.
NORTH AMERICA
IN NEW YORK
CITY
(1999)
A mosquito becomes infected
when it bites and sucks the
blood of a bird that is
carrying the virus. Ten days
to two weeks later, the virus
reaches the mosquito's
salivary glands.
West Nile virus does not
spread from person to
person and no evidence
suggests that the virus
can spread directly from
birds to humans or other
animals.
 FACTORS THAT
AFFECT DISEASE
TRANSMISSION
 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS
SANITATION AND ITS FACILITIES
CAN AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION
OF DISEASES. FOOD AND WATER
CAN BE CONTAMINATED
BECAUSE OF POOR SANITATION .
POLLUTION ALSO PLAYS A
MAJOR ROLE IN DISEASE
TRANSMISSION AS EVIDENCED
BY FLOODS DURING THE RAINY
SEASONS.
THESE FLOODS ARE THE CULPRITS
IN THE SPREAD OF
LEPTOSPIROSIS. IN ADDITION,
CLIMATE TAKES ITS ROLE AS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR. OUR
COUNTRY HAS DRY AND WET
SEASONS WHEN VARIOUS
MICROORGANISMS CAN CAUSE
MORBIDITY IN BOTH SEASONS.
 2. SOCIO-
ECONOMIC
FACTORS
CULTURAL PRACTICES INFLUENCE
DISEASE TRANSMISSION. FOR
INSTANCE, THERE ARE SOME
PLACES IN THE CORDILLERAS
WHERE PEOPLE DRINK WINE
FROM ONE GLASS AFTER A
TIRING DAY OF PLANTING. THEY
USE ONE GLASS TO SHOW
UNITY.
I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PRACTICE
OBSERVED BY THE ILOCANOS
AND THAT IS WASHING THE
HANDS IN ONE BASIN BEFORE
EATING. ANOTHER WAY OF
TRANSMITTING DISEASE IS
THROUGH LIVING
ARRANGEMENTS WHERE A
GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVE NEAR
THEIR LIVESTOCK.
CONSIDERING THESE
FACTORS, I HOPE YOU
CAN SHARE THESE
WITH YOUR FAMILY
AND FRIENDS SO THEY
CAN AVOID GETTING
DISEASES.
THREE LEVELS OF
PREVENTING
DISEASES
1. PRIMARY PREVENTION
ACTIVITIES ARE DONE TO
PREVENT ONE FROM
HAVING DISEASES. THIS
INCLUDES GETTING
IMMUNIZED, EATING A
HEALTHY DIET, AND GETTING
ENOUGH SLEEP.
2. SECONDARY PREVENTION
ACTIVITIES ARE DONE TO
PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGES
WHEN THE DISEASE HAS
ALREADY STARTED. THIS
INCLUDES PROMPT
DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT.
3. TERTIARY PREVENTION
THE FOCUS IS ON
REHABILITATING THE SICK
PERSON SO AS TO PREVENT
LONG-TERM
COMPLICATIONS OF THE
DISEASE.