Control of Communicable Diseases Manual
The Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (CCDM) is one of the most widely recognized reference volumes on the topic of infectious diseases.[1] It is useful for physicians, epidemiologists, global travelers, emergency volunteers and all who have dealt with or might have to deal with public health issues.
The title of the book, as registered in the Library of Congress, is Control of Communicable Diseases Manual 20th edition, An Official Report of the American Public Health Association. The editor of CCDM is David L. Heymann, MD.
Contents
History
The first edition, published in 1917, titled Control of Communicable Diseases in Man, was also known then as the CCDM. The first edition was a 30-page pamphlet with 38 diseases.[2] The second edition in 1926 included 42 diseases, but only two arthropod (mosquito) - borne diseases, yellow and dengue fever and one protozoan disease, malaria. The causative organism of smallpox, dengue and chickenpox was listed as 'unknown.' The third edition in 1932 included two new arthropod infestations and a new disease, coccidioidal granuloma, with a note that is was 100% fatal. The fourth edition in 1935 included 13 new infections.
For a long time the paperback edition was a handy pocket book, the 17th edition still fitting in one hand or a pocket . Now, the softcover version can only fit in the largest pocket of a spacious winter coat. However, the entire contents are now available as an app for iOS and Android and in PDF format.
The paperback is 729 pages with dimensions of 1.5 x 4.2 x 7 inches. The ISBN is 978-0-87553-018-5.
Latest edition
The American Public Health Association published the 20th edition of the CCDM in 2014 under the editorship of David L. Heymann, MD. International infectious disease and public health experts, at both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, have updated this version.
The 20th edition includes two new chapters on noma and animal/human communicable diseases.[3] The previous edition had eleven new chapters on topics fundamental to a global public health landscape. Chapter topics include: risk management, public health security in a globalized world, international health regulations, reporting of communicable diseases, outbreak response in bioterrorism, communicable disease control in humanitarian emergencies and handling of infectious materials. Other new chapters offer guidance on disease control at mass gatherings, after natural disasters or in emergency situations.
Content
The Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (CCDM) compiles comprehensive scientific data about communicable diseases, which significantly contribute to mortality and morbidity around the world. The CCDM emphasizes the epidemiological aspects of communicable diseases and provides information about their identification, reporting, control and prevention.
Disease Descriptions
The CCDM lists diseases in alphabetical order and includes information on each disease using the following 12 sections:
- Clinical Features
- Causative agent(s)
- Diagnosis
- Occurrence
- Reservoir(s)
- Incubation period
- Transmission
- Risk groups
- Prevention
- Management of patient
- Management of contacts and the immediate environment
- Special considerations
The size of each section varies considerably. For instance, the occurrence section for smallpox is less than a line long, since this disease is officially present only in the freezers of laboratories at the CDC in the United States and the Vector Institute in Russia.
Availability
The cost of the paperback is $US 38.50 for members members of the APHA and $55 for nonmembers.
The book has been published in a number of languages, including Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Arabic, a testament to its global audience.
The CCDM is available as an online PDF version and as apps for iOS and Android for $50.
