Public health is more than water quality

Occasionally, when I’m out in our community, someone asks me exactly what public health entails. Many people think of water quality as being essential to public health – and it is. The Cryptosporidium outbreak at a local swimming destination last summer is one example of the critical role that public health experts play in ensuring the health of our friends, family and neighbors. 

Many organizations, including churches, social groups, researchers and community support groups, band together to address other public health issues, including infant mortality, vaccinations and protecting our school children and food service workers from a host of diseases spread through social contact.

The latest test of our public health system is the recent wave of H1N1 infections that swept across the world in a pandemic starting last spring and is poised for a widespread recurrence as students and teachers return to school and close quarters.

Many college campuses around the country, including Texas Christian University, are reporting outbreaks of H1N1 as the fall academic semester begins. Since the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic in June, the virus has continued to spread, with the number of countries reporting cases of H1N1 nearly doubling. (A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through human populations across a large region. The WHO’s declaration of the H1N1 pandemic reflected the virus’ spread, not the severity of illness.)

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States continues to report the largest number of H1N1 cases of any country worldwide; however, most people who became ill have recovered without requiring medical treatment. The CDC anticipates more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths into the fall and winter, in conjunction with regular seasonal influenza viruses. Dallas County already has experienced deaths attributed to H1N1 influenza.

The cost of lost productivity due to widespread illness could easily run into the millions and put incredible pressure on public health organizations. This is of particular concern to businesses and schools that must continue operations despite sick workers and parents who must stay home to care for ill family members. 

Last spring, several area public school districts, including Fort Worth, Lewisville and Denton, chose to close schools in an effort to protect the public’s health and control the spread of H1N1. It was a difficult decision, and I supported the Tarrant and Denton counties public health officials who made the decision based on the information they had at the time.

Such decisions also are critical to our area health care workers and institutions because they are tasked with caring for the most seriously ill patients. All of these factors are weighed by public health officials and the CDC before issuing warnings and effecting closings. 

In 2009, we often take public health for granted. Most of us have fresh drinking water and trust the public health officials to make the right decisions to ensure our health. But we also should take personal responsibility for our own and the public’s health by washing our hands and frequently using hand sanitizers, covering coughs with sleeves or handkerchiefs (not hands, which can harbor germs), getting vaccinated against both seasonal flu and H1N1, and staying away from those who are coughing or appear to have a flu-like illness. 

Please teach your children these habits early. And let’s not be afraid, as employers, to encourage employees to stay home while they are sick. The short-term productivity loss will outweigh the cost of widespread illness for the economy and the public.

Dr. Scott Ransom is president and professor in obstetrics,

gynecology, health management and policy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.