Disease research paper

1. Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease 1
Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease
Justin Harmson
Written Assignment-Disease Threatening Public Health
HLST 2002-63118 Healthcare Informatics
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe, LA
Stacy Starks
March 11, 2015

2. Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease 2
Introduction
In recent decades, there has been much debate over pandemics and epidemics based on
diseases than ever before. Unfortunately, when it comes to diagnosing diseases such as the
pandemic influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease issues coexist with the informational technology
that are still subject to the widespread of disease. Diagnosing infectious and dismembered
individuals can be tricky. This process requires extensive research of a particular disease and
treatments for elimination of the disease. Using information technology for pandemics and
epidemics of diseases helps individuals better understand the causes of a particular disease.
Pandemic Influenza
Pandemic influenza is not seasonal flu. Pandemic means prevalent over a whole country
or the world (Caeseele, 2015). In most cases, individuals experience mild cases of the influenza
flu virus. However, sometimes it can turn into a severe respiratory illness. Also, influenza can
spread rapidly from person to person. Some strains are more severe than others and occur every
year killing approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. alone (Hinds, 2015). The influenza virus
spreads by respiratory droplets produced when the infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
When an infected person touches another person or surface these areas become contaminated by
the influenza virus.
Vaccines have been implemented to help protect people against the pandemic flu.
However, since there are new strands of the influenza virus each year it is hard to stop the spread
of infection. Information technology includes running diagnostic tests for clinical descriptions
and diagnosis of influenza. Influenza training from the American Public Health Association
provides courses used for strategies for improving rapid influenza testing in ambulatory settings.

3. Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease 3
“Flu activity and surveillance provides reported statistics on outbreaks of the flu in the U.S.
weekly and its historical data” (Burke and Weill, 2012). Informatics of disease can help to
prevent the spread of the influenza virus by making people aware of the causes of disease.
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) attacks the immune system, leading to
susceptibility to opportunistic infections and eventually death (Humble, 2012). This type of
disease is transferred through bodily fluids, but not by contact of human skin. Before an
individual develops the AIDS virus, the individual must possess the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). Information technology allows researchers to get an in-depth look of viruses such as
HIV or AIDS. Scientists are having trouble implanting an antigen for HIV. The reason is because
our genes and proteins play a big role in the life cycle of this virus. The World Health
Organization (WHO), an alert and response site, has been working extensively to control the
spread of disease border to border. The WHO is required to report any disease that could cross an
international border (Kolomer, 2012). Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI) at
NCHHSTP, a data security and confidentiality resource, provides a critical foundation for
ensuring the appropriate sharing of data use programs that are increasingly modified policies for
public health achievement.
Heart Disease
The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead
to a heart attack. Individuals can greatly reduce their risk for coronary artery disease through
lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication. By knowing the epidemiology of diseases
provided by public health systems, individuals are more likely to survive. There are public

4. Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease 4
healthcare websites, podcasts, and organizations that help provide ways to prevent heart disease.
With the use of information technology individuals can be more educated about CAD. By the use
of this information people will be informed about the cause of the disease. This will lead to lower
rates of heart disease and will help promote a healthier society. For example, an individual will
know staying active, eating healthier, and monitoring weight will lower the chance of them
developing CAD.
Conclusion
Through resources such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the diseases
threatening public heath that are associated with the pandemic influenza, AIDS, and heart
disease will hopefully decrease. Community education about these potentially fatal diseases is
crucial to progression away from negative stereotypes. It is furthermore the responsibility of
individuals to carry the medical knowledge provided to them throughout their education using
informational technologies into the world.

5. Information Technology on Pandemic Influenza, AIDS, and Heart Disease 5
References
Burke, L. and Weill, B. (2012) "Chapter 5-Information Technology in Public Health.”
Information Technology for the Health Professions. (4th ed). N.p.: Prentice Hall, 103-07.
Print.
"Data Security and Confidentiality." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 28 Oct. 2013.
Web. 03 Mar. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/Data-Security.htm
"Prevention: What You Can Do." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 09 May 2013.
Web. 03 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/what_you_can_do.htm>
Humble, M., Bride, B., Kolomer, S., & Reeves, P. (2012). Evolution of a Virus: The Framing of
HIV/AIDS in Social Work Journals. Social Work, 57(4), 371-376.
Hinds, A., & Caeseele, P. (2015). Comparison of the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed
influenza A and influenza B cases in Manitoba, Canada. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 257-
273.