Epidemiology is the control of disease and understanding health factors and when disease occurs, how it can be controlled and how it travels and is distributed and what genetic factors it involves. Some populations seem to be predisposed to some illnesses or epidemics which are widespread distributions of particular pathogens. It helps to determine what genetic factors may be involved.. As a veterinarian, the understanding that public health needs to be addressed and there is a responsibility by veterinarians within a community to ensure that everyone understands what illnesses they get. For instance, a veterinarian may communicate what currently is an issue. A high local number of certain cases may prompt a veterinarian to recommend more vaccines or tests for particular pathogens. Veterinarians help people to know what is out there and how to identify symptoms. It helps mitigate the problem by encouraging people to take preventative measures.
They are able to find out where things are more likely to occur and pass the information along to friends, family, staff and clients alike. There are some people that don’t check the news or know much about diseases and rely on veterinarians to tell them what they may be at risk for as both zoonotic potential and what could be harmful pathogens to their animals. There are many dimensions to preventing disease such as keeping pests down. This could be getting rid of standing water to prevent mosquitos or spraying pesticides to get rid of ticks. There are topical treatments to prevent your animals from getting parasites which can serve as vectors. Behaviors, such as avoiding dead rodents to reduce the potential exposure to plague is an example of a choice people can make to prevent potential exposure.
Other benefits to understanding how disease is spread may keep it from going far or find a source that may be harming multiple people. If for instance in the example of a contaminated water source it can affect many people. Knowing how disease travels helps to prevent its spread. People can take precautions to protect themselves such as drinking water from potable sources and treating it when necessary.
Knowing also as a veterinarian how to properly maintain a clean environment and surgical space is important. The veterinarian is responsible for ensuring that proper techniques are observed. Even large animal veterinarians need to know proper handling techniques to prevent the spread of illness in a stable of horses for instance. This could including techniques such as foot baths, keeping horses separated when ill, exercising in a private location, mitigation of potential exposure and proper observation of disinfectant, sanitary and disease prevention techniques. Proper protective gear should be used. Hands should be cleaned between patients. Protective gear such as masks, gloves, aprons, gowns, hair covers, disposable booties and more may be used. Some equipment may also have covers and sleeves.
A proper sanitary site should be observed. People also have a right to know their animals will not get sick at a veterinary clinic. For instance, in the case of a stable with a sick horse, all fomites should be properly kept. The horse should be kept in an appropriate sanitizable stall that can be cleaned and stripped (all bedding removed with the grounds being sanitized such as a concrete flooring). Otherwise, the stall cannot be used until it can be confirmed that it has been left along long enough for all remnants of the pathogens to be destroyed. Stalls which cannot have activity should be far from other horses, out of the breezeway (open areas where other horses will pass). The stall should be marked with hay bales (which will later be disposed of to avoid further chance of contamination. The area can also be marked off with paint or other material. For these examples, the veterinarian should be able to communicate this information to the owners to further prevent contamination.
The veterinarian helps the public stay informed about what is out there. They help advice organizations and people on how to mitigate public health issues. They are able to prevent disease by treating it and reporting it when necessary. They may distribute information on potential diseases or provide information on websites. Some Veterinarians publish information in magazines, books and newspapers about animal health care and may have inforamtion regarding disease and how to recognize or eliminate them and when they should see a veterinarian.
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