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S. Epidemics, Pandemics, Disease — Hazard Identification. <br />Infectious diseases emerging throughout history have included <br />some of the most feared plagues of the past. New infections <br />continue to emerge today, while many of the old plagues are <br />still with us. As demonstrated by influenza epidemics, under <br />suitable circumstances, a new infection first appearing <br />anywhere in the world could travel across entire continents <br />within days or weeks (Morse, 1995). Due to the potential of <br />complex health and medical conditions that can threaten the <br />general population, Florida's vulnerability to an epidemic is <br />continually being monitored. With millions of tourists arriving <br />and departing the state annually, disease and disease <br />exposure (airborne, vector, and ingestion) are constantly <br />evaluated and analyzed. <br />Primarily as a result of the entrance of undocumented aliens <br />into south Florida, and the large number of small wildlife, <br />previously controlled or eradicated diseases have surfaced. <br />Health officials closely monitor this potential threat to the public <br />health. The emphasis upon preventive medical measures such <br />as school inoculation, pet licensing, rodent/insect eradication, <br />water purification, sanitary waste disposal, health inspections, <br />and public health education mitigate this potential disaster. <br />Another potential threat to south Florida's population is food <br />contamination. Frequent news stories document that E. coli <br />and botulism breakouts throughout the country are not that <br />uncommon. Most recently, millions of pounds of possibly <br />contaminated beef from the Hudson packing plant were seized <br />by the Department of Agriculture and destroyed. <br />Extent. Due to the low probability of occurrence, this hazard <br />will not be fully profiled. <br />Because epidemics are hazards that are not bounded by <br />geographic or topographic characteristics, there are no definite <br />means to determine whether or not the extent of this hazard <br />differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction within Indian River <br />County. <br />Vulnerability Assessment. Florida is more vulnerable than <br />many other states to possible outbreaks of infectious diseases <br />due to the large number of international and U.S. tourists it <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 56 <br />