What does HCID mean in MEDICAL

High Consequence Infectious Diseases are typically those that have the potential to cause widespread harm through pandemics, epidemics or large-scale outbreaks. The World Health Organization defines HCID as those that could potentially “cause significant mortality and/or major morbidity nationally or internationally”. Usually these diseases are caused by highly virulent microorganisms with rapid transmission rates.

Examples of High Consequence Infectious Diseases include Ebola, SARS, MERS, avian influenza A (H5N1), Marburg virus disease and Zika virus.

Depending on the type of infectious agent, the method of transmission will vary. For example, some HCIDs like Ebola and Marburg virus spread through contact with body fluids such as blood or other secretions from infected individuals while mosquito-borne pathogens such as Zika can be transmitted through bites from an infected mosquito. Other types of infectious agents may be spread through contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact via respiratory droplets in coughing or sneezing.

Yes! Good hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing with soap and water; appropriate cough etiquette; avoiding direct contact with identified cases; vector control (eliminating standing water where possible mosquito breeding sites may form); and early detection followed by isolation of suspected cases can all help reduce the risk of contracting an HCID. Vaccines are also increasingly available for certain HCIDs including measles, pneumococcal disease and rotavirus infection among others.

Governments and public health authorities play a critical role in managing outbreaks of High Consequence Infectious Diseases by enacting policies to protect populations both at home and abroad —including travel advisories; preventive measures such as vaccination campaigns; quarantine strategies; surveillance systems to detect outbreaks quickly; outbreak response teams to manage affected communities; economic assistance for affected countries; collaboration between governments worldwide to share information about emerging threats; support for research on new therapies; sharing best practices across borders to learn from each other's experiences;and working collaboratively with industry partners when it comes to management strategies.