Some historical and current perspectives on prevention and control of infections

Bamgboye M Afolabi

doi:10.21767/2471-9668.10003

Abstract

Tel: +234 1 291 6562 The first written health code in the world was believed to be Leviticus, a manuscript dated circa 1500 BC that focused on personal and community accountabilities and contained regulation concerning the cleanliness of body, sexual health behaviors, protection against contagious diseases and the Isolation of lepers. The same period witnessed the issuance of The Code of Hammurabi, a set of laws and edicts created by the then monarch of Babylon, spelling out rules and punishments for thefts, farming, property damage, women’s right, children’s right, murder, death and injury. Hippocrates (460-380 BC), the founder of Western medicine, wrote a treatise titled “On Airs, Waters, and Places” an excerpt from which reads:

Highlights

The same period witnessed the issuance of The Code of Hammurabi, a set of laws and edicts created by the monarch of Babylon, spelling out rules and punishments for thefts, farming, property damage, women’s right, children’s right, murder, death and injury
The black Plague or Black Death, known as bubonic plague reappeared in Europe in 1348, after almost 1000 years, wiping out almost 2⁄3 of the population in major European cities in the first two years of the pandemic that ravaged Europe in 1348
In the 18th Century, two prevailing views of epidemics from infection emerged – Miasma, a concept that epidemics originated from definitive atmospheric circumstances and from mists rising from carbon-based materials and Contagion, a concept that epidemics were as a result of spread of germs – both having Public Health implications

Summary

Introduction

Some Historical and Current Perspectives on Prevention and Control of Infections This lead to new Public Health initiatives that were established to arrest the spread of the deadly disease. In the 18th Century, two prevailing views of epidemics from infection emerged – Miasma, a concept that epidemics originated from definitive atmospheric circumstances and from mists rising from carbon-based materials and Contagion, a concept that epidemics were as a result of spread of germs – both having Public Health implications.

Results

Conclusion