Question

instructions: you are a disease detective working for the maryland department of health. use clues from each case to decide if the disease is communicable or noncommunicable, identify the likely illness, and explain how it could be prevented. then complete the awareness section.

■ case #1: the birthday bash outbreak

eight teens in ocean city report fever, fatigue, and sore throat after a weekend party. they sh...ks and snacks; one friend recently came home from college with a cough. none wore masks. a few h... swollen lymph nodes and tested positive for something contagious.

1. is this disease communicable or noncommunicable?

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1. what disease might this be? (justify your answer)

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1. how could it have been prevented?

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1. what public health response would you recommend?

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Explanation:

1. Communicable Disease: The presence of a contagious element (one friend with a cough, shared drinks/snacks, no masks) indicates it can spread.
2. Strep Throat or COVID - 19 (example): Fever, fatigue, sore throat are common symptoms. Strep can spread via respiratory droplets (like at a party). For COVID - 19, similar symptoms and transmission through close contact (no masks).
3. Prevention: Wearing masks (to block droplet transmission), avoiding sharing drinks/snacks (prevents oral - fluid transfer), and good hand hygiene (reduces surface - to - mouth/nose transmission).
4. Public Health Response: Contact tracing (identify all party attendees), testing (for the suspected disease, e.g., strep test or COVID - 19 PCR), and public education (on symptoms, prevention like masking and hygiene).

Answer:

1. Communicable.
2. Could be strep throat (symptoms and transmission via respiratory droplets at a party). Or COVID - 19 (symptoms, close contact, no masks).
3. Wearing masks, not sharing drinks/snacks, hand washing.
4. Contact tracing, testing, public health education.