Public awareness is the first step toward controlling infectious diseases LAKEWOOD - Kimball Medical Center encourages public awareness to help control the spread of infectious diseases. An infectious disease is a disease that can be spread directly or indirectly from one living thing to another. Infectious diseases include a variety of infections like the simple cold, to serious illnesses like influenza (the flu), meningitis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 160,000 people in the United States die yearly from an infectious disease. On a global scale, infectious diseases annually cause 15 million deaths. Awareness is the first step towards eradicating these communicable diseases," explains Dr. Sandeepa Utpat, board certified in infectious diseases at Kimball Medical Center. "The public must be knowledgeable of the infectious diseases that are out there and what can be done to control them. For example, flu shots are the best protection for influenza and are readily available. A simple call to your physician or the County Health Department can provide you with a schedule." Vaccination has resulted in the eradication of smallpox and the eliminations of poliomyelitis in the United States. And it has helped control measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria. Clean water and sanitation have contributed to a reduction in typhoid and cholera, both transmitted by contaminated water, and major causes of death in the early 20th Century. But there is much more to be done. "You should check with your health care provider to keep your vaccination records up to date," says Dr. Utpat. "For example, all adults require tetanus and diphtheria (Td) immunizations at 10 year intervals throughout their lives. Your doctor can tell you if you are in a high risk group for any of these diseases and what immunizations you need to receive." World AIDS Day was held December 1 to increase awareness, fight prejudice, improve education, as well as raise money to help the battle against this very serious infectious disease. This year's theme, "accountability," is designed to inspire citizens across the globe to hold their political leaders accountable for the promises they have made on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) according to The World AIDS Campaign. "HIV is a serious infectious disease with no cure. HIV is found in the blood and the sexual fluids of an infected person, and in the breast milk of an infected woman. It is transmitted when sufficient amounts of these fluids get inside someone else's body," explains Dr. Utpat. "HIV attacks the immune system and ,without treatment, it usually progresses to AIDS in an average of 10 years." Some people believe that there is a cure for HIV/AIDS and it is very important for them to realize that there is not. The only way to remain safe is to not become infected, Dr. Utpat added. Antiretroviral medication can prolong the time between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS. Modern combination therapy is highly effective and, theoretically, someone with HIV can live for a long time before it becomes AIDS according to Dr. Utpat. "But we must remember that AIDS is an extremely serious condition and creates an environment were the body has very little defense against any sort of infection," she said. Dr. Sandeepa Utpat's practice is at Infectious Disease Professionals, 101 Prospect St., Lakewood. For additional information about infectious diseases and their control, or to make and appointment to see Dr. Utpat, please call the St. Barnabas Healthcare Link at (888) SBHS-123. SIDEBAR: Facts about infectious diseases from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: +Vaccines are among the safest medical products available. +Forty to fifty cases of tetanus occur each year, resulting in approximately five deaths annually in the U.S. +The majority of the estimated 60,000 new hepatitis B infections each year strike adolescents and young adults. The hepatitis B virus is 100 times more infectious than HIV. +Of the 66 confirmed cases of measles reported in 2005, approximately 65% occurred in people younger than 20 years of age. +By age 50, 80% of women will be infected with the human papilloma virus, the virus that causes cervical cancer. There are on average 9,710 new cases and 3,700 deaths from cervical cancer in the United States every year.