Contact tracing
Contact tracing is a process used in epidemiology to identify and monitor individuals who have had contact with an infectious disease patient. The goal of contact tracing is to interrupt the chain of transmission and reduce the spread of the disease.
History[edit | edit source]
The practice of contact tracing has been used for decades to control the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections. The method gained significant attention during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Process[edit | edit source]
Contact tracing involves three primary steps: contact identification, contact listing, and contact follow-up.
Contact Identification[edit | edit source]
Once a person is confirmed as infected with a disease, healthcare professionals interview the patient to identify everyone they have been in close contact with during the time they may have been infectious.
Contact Listing[edit | edit source]
The contacts identified are then listed and informed about their contact status, what it means, the actions that will follow, and the importance of receiving early care if they develop symptoms. Contacts are also provided with information about prevention of the disease.
Contact Follow-Up[edit | edit source]
Regular follow-ups are conducted with all contacts to monitor for symptoms and test for signs of infection.
Challenges[edit | edit source]
Contact tracing is a labor-intensive process that requires a large workforce, especially during a widespread outbreak. Other challenges include ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of patients and contacts, and the stigma associated with certain diseases.
Digital Contact Tracing[edit | edit source]
With the advent of digital technology, digital contact tracing has emerged as a tool to supplement traditional contact tracing. This involves the use of mobile applications to track individuals' proximity to others and notify them if they have been in close contact with a confirmed case.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This article is a Public health stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP1 injections from $125
W8MD offers a medical weight loss program NYC and a clinic to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our W8MD's physician supervised medical weight loss centers in NYC provides expert medical guidance, and offers telemedicine options for convenience.
Why choose W8MD?
- Comprehensive care with FDA-approved weight loss medications including:
- loss injections in NYC both generic and brand names:
- weight loss medications including Phentermine, Qsymia, Diethylpropion etc.
- Accept most insurances for visits or discounted self pay cost.
- Generic weight loss injections starting from just $125.00 for the starting dose
- In person weight loss NYC and telemedicine medical weight loss options in New York city available
- Budget GLP1 weight loss injections in NYC starting from $125.00 biweekly with insurance!
Book Your Appointment
Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss, and Philadelphia medical weight loss Call (718)946-5500 for NY and 215 676 2334 for PA
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's NYC physician weight loss.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available. Call 718 946 5500.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD