Assignment-Collaborative Learning Community (CLC)
In your Collaborative Learning Community, write a paper of 500-1,000 words that describes the national and international implications of the selected health issue. Include the following:
1. Scope and depth of the problem.
2. Countries that are faring better or worse than others.
3. How the United States ranks on this issue in relation to other countries.
4. Efforts of the World Health Organization and other agencies on this issue.
5. Existing disparities (include race, age, and gender, as appropriate) in relation to the issue: Describe the populations that have emerged as being disadvantaged and why.
Refer to "CLC Health Issue Analysis Overview."
Resource 1: CLC Health Issue Analysis Overview
Group work has benefits and liabilities. EVERYONE assigned to a CLC is expected to equally participate in the work in terms of time and quality of effort. Each participant has strengths and it is reasonable to apportion the work to make best use of this. Some are natural leaders. Our strengths can be our greatest liabilities: No one wants to be bossed around no matter how skilled the boss is. Honest communication is critical to effective group work. The best way to avoid conflict is to set very clear expectations up front. Then, if someone does not do what is expected him/her, he/she can be referred to the original agreement rather than have the confrontation become personal.
Course instructors are able to observe the group process in the CLC forum. If the work takes place outside the forum, this information will be absent. Be certain (even if communicating via e-mail, phone, or face-to-face) to record the communication in the CLC forum.
CLC Project Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to critically analyze a health care issue through the focus of major concepts from each Topic. There are six components to this assignment after the CLC agreement is signed and the topic is identified. It is not expected that every member of the CLC group will contribute to each assignment, but that assignments will be divided fairly and equally among the group. Each of the written components of the CLC project will be 500-1,000 words. These papers should be in APA format with a title and a reference page. An abstract is not required. An introduction is required ONLY for Part 1 and is not required in any parts thereafter. It is the intention that if one were to take the six parts of this assignment and put them together, a comprehensive and cohesive analysis would be produced. Part 1 is worth 3 points and each of the subsequent parts (2-6) are worth 4 points each.
Topic 2 (10 points)
Initiate a conversation regarding potential topics of interest. This should be a health issue with national and international relevance that will be the basis for your final project. It may be helpful to identify a number of topics of interest and have individual group members do a quick survey of the literature to be sure that there is current information available. Revise the CLC Agreement with the choice of the topic identified in the title and re-submit the CLC Agreement. There is no formal writing requirement for the topic selection. It is merely a brief paragraph declaring your identified topic.
INFLUENZA (Flu)
Introduction
Influenza commonly known as flu is a contagious respiratory infection that attacks the general respiratory system that is, the nose, throat, and even the lungs. It is caused by the two types of influenza viruses which are influenza A, influenza B and influenza C (Wang & Tao, 2010). Attacks from both viruses are epidemic and seasonal as they are common within specific periods within a year. Attack mechanisms for influenza A viruses depends on the genes on the surface protein of a patient. They are normally spread through sneezing and coughing from an infected individual to the surrounding air (Wang & Tao, 2010).
The flu can also attack an individual in case they get into direct body tissue contact with an infected individual for example handshaking. Health professionals argue that the flu virus is stubborn and spreads mainly over tiny droplets which are produced when the infected individuals' cough, talk, and sneeze (Wang & Tao, 2010). Such droplets are easily carried by the surrounding air and can be landed in the nose and mouths of the immediate persons. Additionally, it can enter into one's system if he or she gets into direct contact with a surface or object that has the influenza bacteria and consequently rubs or touches their nose, mouth or even eyes (Wang & Tao, 2010).
Health departments have overtime identified initiative to address the problem of influenza, such initiatives include:
Reducing human exposure to the flu viruses, this initiative works by notifying the public on the safe ways to prevent and control the spread of the virus and it actively works to reduce infection opportunities and curbs the spread of the pandemic virus (Abramson, 2011).
They have built able capacities to cope with the pandemic, measures have been taken and put in place to cope with the virus since helping the society to stay free from the virus (Abramson, 2011).
They have innovated much on early warning and acknowledgments, information about influenza and its impacts to the society are made clear since it is effective for the society to stay free from the influenza virus (Abramson, 2011).
Necessary global scientific researches are being carried out and developments to ensure that vaccines and antiviral drugs are available across the globe mostly during the seasons which the virus is spread. The scientific knowledge enables quick and effective identification of the virus at its initial stages (Abramson, 2011).
Several measures have been put in place to measure the progress of the issue. They include;
The World Health Organization has continuously carried out tests to identify cases of attack by the virus at its early stages that are in one to four days of an individual's exposure to the influenza virus (Tam & Sellwood, 2013).
Materials enlightening the public about the virus and the most convenient ways to stay free from the attack are being developed and provisional with all measures that can help curb and salvage the situation (Tam & Sellwood, 2013).
The current status of the issue based on measures outcomes clarifies that the globe is well up and at a good place to overcome the spread of influenza viruses. This has been made possible by the continuous scientific researchers which develop antiviral drugs and vaccines which are work to stop the spread and impacts of the influenza virus upon the general society (Tam & Sellwood, 2013).
References
Abramson, J. (2011). Inside the 2009 Influenza Pandemic. World Scientific Publishing Company, 2011.
Tam, J., & Sellwood, C. (2013). Pandemic Influenza. CABI, 2013.
Wang, Q., & Tao, Y. (2010). Molecular Virology. Horizon Scientific Press.