Basics of Epidemiology
The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations, and how to control or prevent health problems.
What is Epidemiology
An increase in the number of disease cases above what is normally expected in a specific area.
What is an Epidemic
Disease transmission via contaminated objects like food, water, or utensils.
What is a Vehicle-Borne Transmission
A person identified as having a particular disease or health condition.
What is a Case
Preventing the onset of disease before it occurs (e.g., vaccination, healthy lifestyle).
What is Primary Prevention
A branch of epidemiology that investigates the causes and associations of diseases by studying how exposure relates to outcome.
What is Analytic Epidemiology
An epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents, usually affecting many people.
What is a Pandemic
Transmission of disease through vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas.
What is a Vector-Borne Transmission
The first documented case of a disease in a population or outbreak.
What is an Index Case
Detecting disease early and taking action to halt or slow its progress (e.g., screenings).
What is Secondary Prevention
Describes the patterns of disease occurrence in terms of person, place, and time.
What is Descriptive Epidemiology
The constant presence or usual prevalence of a disease in a population or region.
What is an Endemic
Immediate transfer of infectious agents through physical contact between an infected person and a susceptible person.
What is Direct Transmission
The first person to bring the disease into a population.
What is a Primary Case
Reducing the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects (e.g., rehabilitation programs).
What is Tertiary Prevention
A model that explains disease occurrence through interaction between agent (pathogen), host, and environment.
What is Epidemiology Triangle
An outbreak that results from a group of people being exposed to a common infectious agent or toxin.
What is a Common-Source Epidemic
Transmission through an intermediary object or person, rather than direct contact.
What is Indirect Transmission
A person who becomes infected from exposure to the primary case.
What is a Secondary Case
Requires individuals to take action to prevent disease (e.g., exercise, immunization).
What is Active Primary Prevention
A microorganism (like bacteria, virus, or parasite) that can cause disease.
What is Pathogen
An outbreak that spreads from person to person over time.
What is a Propagated Epidemic
Spread of infectious agents via droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air.
What is Airborne Transmission
An individual who harbors the infectious agent without showing symptoms and can transmit the disease to others.
What is a Carrier
Protection offered without active involvement from individuals (e.g., fluoridation of water).
What is Passive Primary Prevention