Types of Outbreaks
a field of science that studies health problems within populations
Epidemiology
an infected person or animal that contains, spreads, or harbors an infectious organism
Carrier
first disease case in the population
Primary case
transfer of a disease via a particular vehicle (needle use)
Vehicle-borne transmission
an individual who has been exposed to and harbors a disease-causing organism (pathogen) and who has done so for some time, even though he or she may have recovered from the disease
Active carrier
an epidemic that affects a region, country, or continent
Pandemic
an animal capable of transmitting an infectious agent among vertebrates
Vector
first disease case brought to the attention of the epidemiologist
Index case
transfer of bacteria or viruses on dust particles or on small respiratory droplets that may become aerosolized when one coughs or sneezes
Airborne transmission
behavior change on the part of the individual that prevents a disease or disorder before it happens
Active primary prevention
occur in excess of what is normal, beyond the endemic level, in a community or region
Epidemic
an inanimate intermediate involved in the transmission of a pathogen from an infected person or reservoir to a susceptible host
Vehicle
person who become infected from contact with the primary case
Secondary case
the direct and immediate transfer of an agent from a host/reservoir to a susceptible host
Direct transmission
the habitat (living or nonliving) in or on which an infectious agent lives, grows, and multiplies and on which it depends for its survival in nature
Reservoir
Persistent, usual, expected health-related state or event in a defined population
Endemic
characterization of the distribution of health-related states or events
Descriptive Epidemiology
cases are consistently diagnosed
Case definition
different ways in which disease is transferred
Modes of Transmission
objects such as clothing, towels, and utensils that can harbor a disease agent and are capable of transmitting it
Fomite
any attempt to restore an afflicted person to a productive and satisfying lifestyle and provide the highest quality of life possible
finding and quantifying associations, testing hypotheses, and identifying causes of health-related states or events
Analytic Epidemiology
a person who has been diagnosed as having a disease, disorder, injury, or condition
Case
organism or substance such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, or parasites that is capable of producing disease
Pathogen
an infectious organism in vertebrate animal
Zoonosis