In an effort to control the ongoing cholera epidemic affecting Haiti, health officials are

considering the use of cholera vaccines. One difficulty they are facing is the limited vaccine

supply. Nonetheless, some consider that it is not essential to vaccinate the entire population for

the vaccine to have a significant impact in controlling the epidemic, because through to the

development of herd immunity,:

A. the immunity of those vaccinated will be transmitted to the unvaccinated population

B. the pathogen will find it increasingly hard to find susceptible hosts, and thus to persist even in

a population with unvaccinated individuals

C. the pathogen will be forced to evolve less virulent forms that will have a lesser impact in the

community

D. antiviral drugs will have a greater impact in controlling the infection

Question

Biology

Ashanti Norris

16 August, 21:47

In an effort to control the ongoing cholera epidemic affecting Haiti, health officials are

considering the use of cholera vaccines. One difficulty they are facing is the limited vaccine

supply. Nonetheless, some consider that it is not essential to vaccinate the entire population for

the vaccine to have a significant impact in controlling the epidemic, because through to the

development of herd immunity,:

A. the immunity of those vaccinated will be transmitted to the unvaccinated population

B. the pathogen will find it increasingly hard to find susceptible hosts, and thus to persist even in

a population with unvaccinated individuals

C. the pathogen will be forced to evolve less virulent forms that will have a lesser impact in the

community

D. antiviral drugs will have a greater impact in controlling the infection

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Aidan Stevenson · Answer 1

The right answer is B.

Cholera vaccination is only recommended for staff who have to intervene with patients in an epidemic situation. In all other cases, effective prevention is provided by good personal hygiene (washing hands) and food.

It is also important to know that this vaccine does not protect permanently: It protects only about 90% within 6 months, then to 50% within 3 years.