Initial Discussion Post instructions
This week you will focus on the people affected by the condition you have chosen. In your initial post discuss the person (racial and gender distribution), place (geographic distribution), and time (health trends from one point in time to another) that relate to your condition.
Respond to classmates post below
Classmate's response:
I have decided to change my population of focus to Colombia. After Brazil began to detect Zika, Colombia began official surveillance of this virus in their country, so they have more comprehensive epidemiological data.
In early October 2015, a Zika Virus Disease (ZVD) outbreak was declared in Colombia after the first cluster of laboratory-confirmed cases were identified in the northern region of the country.
From August 9, 2015, through April 2, 2016 a total of 65, 726 cases of ZVD were reported in Colombia. Of these cases, 11,944 were reported as pregnant women. The largest number of cases was reported during the week of January 31 to February 6, 2016, but following this week, the number of reported cases began to decrease overall.1
From January 3, 2016 to February 11, 2017, a total of 1, 024 microcephaly cases have been reported in Colombia. Before ZVD detection, the annual mean of microcephaly cases in Colombia was 140 cases per year. Between November 1, 2015 and February 4, 2017, Colombia reported 689 cases of neurological syndrome in persons with previous symptoms of ZVD, and 64% of these cases were classified as Guillain-Barré syndrome.1
Geographically, as of February 11, 2017, 35 of 37 territories in Colombia have reported confirmed cases of ZVD. The Aedes mosquitos usually do not live above 6,500 feet, so there is minimal risk at these elevations in Colombia. Colombia has the second highest rates of ZVD, with Brazil having the highest incidence.1
The incidence rates of ZVD were significantly higher among female patients than among male patients and in those aged 20 to 34 year's old.2 However, these rates may have been affected by the concern of ZVD in pregnant women, causing them to be tested and diagnosed at higher rates.
However, there was a higher incidence of ZVD in women between the ages of 45 and 64 years compared to men, which may suggest that women may have an increased susceptibility to ZVD.1
Bar charts and line graphs seem to be the easiest way to present this data over time. Maps are also useful to show the geographical distribution of disease.