You are an epidemiologist who has been asked to consult on an outbreak ofAnthrax (disease X) among people and livestock. Your task is to establish the chain of transmission by reviewingsemi-structured interview data and information from those directly involved in the outbreak. You willthen develop an outbreak investigation report to explain your findings.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Outbreak Investigation Report: Anthrax Outbreak
Chain of Transmission Analysis:
Epidemiological Overview:
Anthrax, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, has been identified in both people and livestock in the affected area. The transmission of anthrax typically occurs through contact with infected animals or their products. In this outbreak investigation, it is crucial to establish the chain of transmission to effectively control the spread of the disease.
Review of Semi-Structured Interview Data:
Through semi-structured interviews with individuals directly involved in the outbreak, several key findings have emerged:
1. Livestock Exposure: Many affected individuals reported direct contact with sick livestock or consumption of contaminated meat.
2. Occupational Risk: Individuals working in close proximity to livestock, such as farmers and veterinarians, were at higher risk of exposure.
3. Lack of Awareness: Limited knowledge about anthrax symptoms and preventive measures was observed among the community members.
Established Chain of Transmission:
1. Primary Source: The primary source of infection appears to be contaminated livestock, particularly cattle and sheep.
2. Human-to-Human Transmission: Limited evidence of human-to-human transmission was reported, primarily among individuals in close contact with infected persons or animal products.
3. Environmental Factors: Environmental contamination from infected animal carcasses or spores in the soil may also contribute to ongoing transmission.
Recommendations and Control Measures:
Public Health Interventions:
1. Risk Communication: Conduct public awareness campaigns to educate communities about anthrax symptoms, transmission routes, and preventive measures.
2. Vaccination Programs: Implement vaccination programs for at-risk livestock populations to prevent further outbreaks.
3. Surveillance and Monitoring: Enhance surveillance systems to detect and respond to new cases promptly.
Livestock Management Practices:
1. Quarantine Measures: Implement strict quarantine measures for infected livestock and their surroundings to prevent further spread.
2. Proper Disposal: Ensure safe disposal of animal carcasses and contaminated materials to minimize environmental contamination.
One Health Approach:
1. Collaboration: Foster collaboration between public health authorities, veterinary services, and environmental agencies to address the multidimensional aspects of the outbreak.
2. Intersectoral Coordination: Establish coordinated response mechanisms to facilitate information sharing and joint decision-making.
Conclusion:
By establishing a clear chain of transmission and implementing targeted control measures, it is possible to contain the anthrax outbreak, protect public health, and mitigate further spread of the disease. Collaboration, communication, and proactive interventions are essential in effectively managing such public health emergencies.
