Epidemiologic Surveillance after Natural Disaster
Pretest
Multiple Choice
Circle the correct answer:
1. Surveillance of communicable diseases following a disaster is
complicated by:
a. persistence of many serious communicable
diseases
b. lack of baseline data
c. lack of writing materials
d. all
of the above
e. a and b
2. Appropriate assessment of rumors is possible through:
a. early epidemiologic involvement and prompt field
investigation
b. education of concerned parties about appropriate ways to
interpret and respond to rumors
c. weekly reports
d. a and c
e. a and
b
3. An infectious disease agent can be brought into a disaster area
by:
a. a relief worker
b. transport vehicle
c.
supplies
d. all of the above
e. a and c
4. For visual appreciation of disease trends, it is most helpful
to use:
a. maps
b. graphs
c. columns of numbers
d.
figures
e. a and b
5. Efforts to provide feedback to the field from the central
office may be frustrated by limitations of:
a. diagnostic resources
b. epidemiologic human
resources
c. communications and transport
d. all of the above
e. b and
c
6. Mass administration of antibiotics is not suitable because:
a. antibiotics are not effective against viral
diseases (i.e. influenza)
b. no single antibiotic provides adequate coverage
against all potential bacterial or rickettsial diseases
c. antibiotics have
to be taken indefinitely to prevent infection for a susceptible organism
d.
they can induce allergic reactions and toxic effects
e. all of the
above
7. Diseases potentially introduced into areas affected by disaster
relief workers are:
a. new strains of influenza
b. diseases borne by
insect vectors
c. leukemia
d. all of the above
e. a and b
8. Emergency water supply operations should ensure:
a. amount of daily water consumption needed
b.
water disinfection, protection, storage, and quality
c. protection of
wells
d. all of the above
e. b and c
True/False
Indicate T or F:
____9. Following a disaster it is often best to discontinue
routine public health services and use the people and money for emergency public
health programs directed to specific problems.
____10. After a disaster, the surveillance of all possible
diseases is usually essential.
____11. Standardized case definitions and/or symptom complexes
need to be incorporated in predisaster training.
____12. Epidemics can usually be avoided after a disaster because
people congregate for food, safety and medical attention and consequently can be
organized to avoid risks.
____13. Factors which contribute to the risk of communicable
disease after a manmade disaster are very different from those after a natural
disaster.
____14. Regular telephone or mail surveys of a sample of
physicians can yield a good appreciation of actual levels of diseases in the
population.
____15. Systematic confirmation of all suspected cases of the
diseases subject to international notification and/or those of selected emphasis
in surveillance is a high priority during and after disasters.
____16. If children in an area affected by a disaster have not
been vaccinated previously, an emergency immunization program should be
developed.
____17. Relief administrators usually give high priority to
environmental health measures that prevent communicable diseases.
____18. Following a disaster, most epidemics are detected because
medical care improves.
____19. International relief organizations - which provide
personnel and supplies following a disaster usually view epidemiologic
surveillance and control as a national responsibility.
____20. Most developing countries have infection control problems
in their hospitals.
____21. After a disaster it is necessary for relief authorities to
set up a separate postdisaster surveillance/assessment system.
____22. The most prevalent diseases in populations stricken by
disaster may be controlled by mass immunization.
____23. Certain areas, such as permanent encampments of displaced
persons, may require indefinite special surveillance.
____24. Serious outbreaks of communicable disease very rarely
occur after natural disasters unless people are placed in camps.
____25. Incoming surveillance notifications should be carefully
filed so they can be tabulated at the end of the reporting period.
Answer Key
