Chapter 17: Special Topic: COVID-19 as an Environmental Health Challenge

1. In mid-1800s London, what did a doctor named John Snow do that helped gain a new understanding of the cholera pandemic of the time?

A. He carefully mapped the incidences of cholera in the city in an attempt to show citizens it was being spread at certain locations and not from airborne poisonous vapors.

B. He invented a cure for the disease after determining that it was impossible to prevent people from contracting the disease.

C. He found that by preventing flooding in parts of London, communities could stop this disease, which was carried by water flowing into the streets.

D. He mapped the incidences of the disease and found the key to stopping it was to eliminate airborne vapors known as miasmas being released from certain locations in the city.

2. COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus are a biological hazard. Which of the following statements about biological hazards is accurate?

A. Biological hazards are caused by pathogens that migrate from animals to humans and create new diseases.

B. Biological hazards are caused by microorganisms that take up residence in our intestines and gradually infect humans from within.

C. Biological hazards are natural threats to human health and can range from deadly pathogens to things like the common cold, poison ivy reactions, and snake bites.

D. Biological hazards are all caused by viruses, although sometimes these viruses can also be beneficial.

3. The characteristics of bacteria and viruses are often confused. Match the following characteristics to the correct microorganism.

Bacteria          A. Are infectious particles consisting of genetic material inside a protein shell

B. Are tiny single-celled organisms that can exist on their own in the world or inside of other organisms

                        C. Most have a pathogenic (harmful) relationship with host organisms

Viruses          D. Their infections can be treated with antibiotics

E. Some cause strep throat, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections F. Use their genetic material to reprogram host cells to use their resources to produce more pathogens

4. Fill in the appropriate blanks with the following terms:

COVID-19

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

novel coronavirus

Severe Acute Respiratory System (SARS)

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, known to cause illnesses in humans and other animals. Past outbreaks include ________ on the Arabian Peninsula in 2012 and ________ in China and 25 other countries in 2003. The recent outbreak that began in 2019 is caused by the ________, so named because this is a new virus and new disease. The WHO officially named the disease caused by the virus ________ in February 2020.

5. Which if the following statements about coronaviruses is true?

A. According to the CDC, the novel coronavirus must have first infected humans through bat bites.

B. Coronaviruses are very common in certain species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.

C. The novel coronavirus likely originated with pangolins, but an intermediary animal between bats and humans facilitated its spread.

D. Household pets like cats and dogs have been a major factor in spreading coronaviruses, making it important to keep them at a distance during outbreaks.

6. Which of the following environmental concerns are thought to increase the likelihood of zoonotic infections, helping pathogens like the novel coronavirus jump from animals to humans? Select all that apply.

A. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

B. Incursion of human settlements on wildlife areas

C. Wildlife habitat loss

D. Water contamination from fracking

E. Changing migration patterns of aquatic species

F. Trade in wild animal species

7. What does the phrase flattening the curve mean in terms of the COVID-19 epidemic?

A. Causing an early, large peak of COVID-19 cases during an epidemic

B. Taking minimal social distancing precautions because disease containment was successful

C. Ensuring that the rate of infection does not exceed the availability of important medical resources

D. Ramping up medication production to meet anticipated demand

8. Which of the following groups is at greatest risk of dying from COVID-19?

A. Children younger than 10 years

B. Younger adults aged 2035 years

C. Mature adults aged 5059 years

D. Adults older than 80 years

9. Why has COVID-19 testing in the US been slow to develop?

A. There was slow and limited federal approval for tests created by state and commercial labs.

B. Tests developed by the WHO and donated to the US at the start of the outbreak were inaccurate.

C. The US government originally limited tests to symptomatic people only.

D. The initial supply of tests was used up in a burst of early testing.

10. Complete the paragraph using the following terms:

vaccine

endemic

herd immunity

Researchers speculate that COVID -19 will become a disease that regularly infects humans, becoming _____. But if enough people are infected and develop some immunity, public health officials wonder if _____ will develop, preventing most of the population from coming into contact with those that are infected. However, it is not clear whether people will ever develop an immunity to this virus. This is why researchers are working to develop a _____ that stimulates the production of antibodies against the disease.