Epidemics, Endemics,
and Pandemics
and Pandemics
What is a Pandemic?
An epidemic affecting or attacking the population of an extensive region, country, or continent.
What is a Vector-Borne Transmission?
Transfer of a disease to a human by a vector.
What is a Carrier?
An infected person or animal that spreads an infectious organism.
What is a Case?
A person who has been diagnosed with a health-related condition
What is Primary Prevention?
The effort to prevent a disease or disorder before it happens.
What is an Endemic?
Refers to the ongoing, usual, or constant presence of a disease in a community or among a group of people
What is a Vehicle-Borne Transmission?
Transfer of disease via a particular vehicle. For example, use of a needle.
What is a Vector?
an invertebrate animal that is capable of transmitting an infectious agent to humans. Examples include ticks, mosquitoes, and mites.
What is a Primary Case?
The first disease case in the population
What is active primary prevention?
Behavior change on the part of the individual prevents disease or disorder before it happens. For example, smoking
What is a Common-source?
An epidemic that arises from a specific source.
What is a Direct transmission?
The direct and immediate transfer of an agent from a host to a susceptible host.
What is a Zoonosis?
An infectious organism in vertebrate animals that can be transmitted to humans through direct contact. For example, rabies.
What is Secondary Case?
A person who becomes infected after contact with the primary case.
What is Secondary Prevention?
Activities aimed at health screening and early detection improve the likelihood of cures and reduce the chance of disability or death.
What is Propagated?
An epidemic that arises from an infection transmitted from one infected person to another.
What is Biological transmission?
Transfer of a pathogen to a susceptible host by a vector while in the vector.
What is a Reservoir?
Habitat of a living or nonliving in which an infectious agent lives, grows, and multiplies.
What is Index Case?
The first disease case brought to the attention of the epidemiologist.
What is Passive primary prevention?
Does not require behavior change on the part of the individual to prevent a disease or disorder from occurring.
What is an epidemic?
When an increase in the number of cases of disease occurs above what is normally expected for a given time and place.
What is Airborne transmission?
Transfer of bacteria or viruses on dust particles or on small respiratory droplets that may become aerosolized when you sneeze, cough, or laugh.
What is a Vehicle?
An inanimate intermediate is involved in the transmission of a pathogen from an infected person or reservoir to a susceptible host.
What is Suspect Case?
An individual who has all the symptoms and signs of disease but has not been diagnosed as having the disease.
What is Tertiary prevention?
Efforts to limit disability by providing rehabilitation where disease, injury, or a disorder has already occurred and caused damage.