Uninterrupted and immediate transfer of an infectious agent from one person to another
What is direct transmission
An individual who has been exposed to and harbors a disease-causing organism and who has done so for some time, even though he or she may have recovered from the disease
What is an active carrier
Efforts to prevent a disease or disorder before it happens
What is primary prevention
The severity of an illness
What is case severity
The cause of the disease
What is a agent
Occurs when an agent is transferred or carried by some intermediate item, organism, means, or process to a host, resulting in disease
What is indirect transmission
An individual who has been exposed to and harbors a pathogen but has not become ill or shown any symptoms
What is a healthy/passive carrier
Activities aimed at health screening and early detection to improve the likelihood of cure and reduce the chance of disability or death
What is secondary prevention
The first disease case in the population
What is primary case
a human or an animal that is susceptible to the disease
What is a host
Occurs when droplets or dust particles carry pathogens to the host and cause infection
What is airborne transmission
Individual who harbors a pathogen and who although in the recovery phase of the course of the disease is still infectious
What is a convalescent carrier
Efforts to limit disability by providing rehabilitation where disease, injury, or a disorder has already occurred and caused damage
What is tertiary prevention
A person who becomes infected from contact with the primary case after the disease has been introduced into the population
What is a secondary case
The habitat in or on which an infectious agent lives grows, and multiplies and on which it depends for its survival in nature
What is a reservior
Occurs when an arthropod conveys the infectious agent
What is vector-borne transmission
An individual exposed to and harbors a pathogen; who is in the beginning stages of the disease; who is showing symptoms; who can transmit the disease.
What is an incubatory carrier
Behavior change on the part of the individual that prevents a disease or disorder before it happens
An individual (or group of individuals) who has all the signs and symptoms of a disease or condition but has not been diagnosed as having the disease or had the cause of the symptoms connected to a suspected pathogen
What is a suspect case
The entryway through which the pathogen or disease-causing agent enters the body
What is a portal of entry
Involves inanimate objects that convey an infectious agent to a host
What is a vehicle-borne transmission
Individual who has been exposed to and harbors a pathogen and who can spread the disease at different places or intervals
What is a intermittent carrier
Does not require behavior change on the part of the individual to prevent a disease or disorder from occurring
What is passive primary prevention
The first disease case brought to the attention of the epidemiologist
What is an index case
Disease transmission occurs when the pathogen leaves the reservoir through a portal
What is a portal of exit