Communicable Disease Control Plan for Boarding Schools

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COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PLAN
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Communicable Disease Control Plan
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Communicable Disease Control Plan
1.0 Governance Arrangements
1.1 Authority over the Development and Implementation of the Plan
Different people assume the implementation and development of plans in response to a
disease outbreak is the responsibility of the doctors and other healthcare service providers in
healthcare institutions. However, the ideology is different when referring to boarding schools. In
such a case, the authority for the development and implementation of the communicable disease
response plan lies in the nursing department, the school administration including the principle
and the community as a whole.
1.2 The aim of the Plan
Following the current cases in the outbreak of measles as a communicable disease in
boarding schools, it has come to our notice to develop a plan that will respond to the crisis. The
measles outbreak has proven to be a side back to the smooth running of educational programs in
institutions. The students are forced to close their learning operations whenever an outbreak
occurs. Therefore, it is vital to develop a response plan that will be relevant across all the
boarding schools in dealing with the measles outbreak crisis. This plan is not only applicable to
the students but also the education service providers in such institutions as they are directly
affected whenever an outbreak occurs. As earlier indicated, an outbreak of measles may be
accompanied by 0.5% recorded number of deaths including the treatment expenditures.
Therefore, this report aims at displaying the relevant issues regarding the measles outbreak
fundamentally aiming at curbing the entire crisis.

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1.3 Objectives of the Plan
 To fully identify measles while identifying its signs and symptoms
 To display the prevention and curative measures of the measles disease
 To provide the responsible authorities in the treatment and prevention of the measles
disease in boarding schools
 To explore the role of the outbreak management staff in the prevention of the measles
outbreak
 To outline and describe the training and communication strategies in the control of the
measles outbreak in boarding schools
1.4 Legislation and Supporting Policies
The measles outbreak has been prominent in countries operating under unstable
legislation regarding the prevention of the disease outbreak. A typical example of such countries
is Romania which has recorded the second highest cases across Europe. However, the current
rules in most states are promoting the development of the measles response plan. Some of the
countries are currently adopting the compulsory immunization plan. For instance, the Romanian
government has introduced a law that instructs all the parents who opt to be out of the
immunization plan to do so in writing (Finnegan, 2017). The ideology of compulsory vaccination
among health workers is also another operating legislation in Romania. However, the new law is
debatable in the future for further amendments and development majorly aiming at curbing the
measles outbreak crisis. Italy is another country on the forefront in increasing incidences of the
measles outbreak. Therefore, the two nations have to be revisited regarding their legislation on
the control of communicable diseases. Some countries like the United States prevents taking

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flights into and out of the state in the case of disease outbreak. Such legislation is highly
recommended for the prevention of the disease spread.
2.0 Prevention Strategies
There exist more strategies to be employed in the prevention of measles. Firstly,
vaccination which involves vaccines such as measles mumps and rubella vaccine (Smith, 2018).
The health sectors across the globe recommend for approximately 95% of the total eligible
population to be vaccinated due to lesser incidences of the outbreak in the case of a higher
immunized population. Vaccination efficiency is done in two doses. First administration occurs
at the age of twelve months and the second is done at the age of three years and four months. The
second approach in preventing measles outbreak involves early notification of the disease
outbreak. The medical professionals are responsible for the identification of the infected area
and notification of the relevant stakeholders. Finally, isolation is significant whereby the
patients with the disease are identified by the health practitioners and isolated from the healthy
groups to prevent the spread of the disease.
3.0 Outbreak Identification and Response
3.1 Definition of measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. The disease leads to about 0.5% deaths of
the infected population in the case of an outbreak. The disease attacks people across all age
groups, and social lines provided one is neither vaccinated nor contracted the illness before
(Parry, 2018). The disease cools down after a period of seven to ten days. The adverse conditions
of the disease are vivid in children with poor immune system and diet especially below the age
of one year. The disease is identified through symptoms such as red eyes, cough, light
sensitivity, runny nose, fever, sore throat, muscle aches and white spots in the buccal cavity.