11.7 Epidemiology of Viruses

Question 1

What is epidemiology?

Answer 1

The study of frequency, determinants, and distribution of disease in human population and the application of the outcome to prevent future infections

Question 2

Three main aims of epidemiology

Answer 2

• Describe disease patterns
• Identify causes of disease
• Manage disease

Question 3

What two kinds of transmission are involved in the emergence of a virus?

Answer 3

• Primary: zoonotic
• Secondary: human to human

Question 4

Antigenic drift vs antigenic shift

Answer 4

Drift: Gradual accumulation of mutations changes shape of antigen
Shift: Reassortment of segmented genetic material during virus assembly, creating antigenically distinct virus

Question 5

Antigenic drift vs antigenic shift

Answer 5

Drift: Gradual accumulation of mutations changes shape of antigen
Shift: Reassortment of segmented genetic material during virus assembly, creating antigenically distinct virus

Question 6

Why can there be no genetic shift in SARS-CoV-2?

Answer 6

Single genome; cannot reassort, only mutate

Question 7

What is the name given to objects that are contamined with an infection?

Answer 7

Fomite

Question 8

Draw a link between arbovirus and climate change

Answer 8

• Global temperature increases
• Mosquitos expand habitat
• Increased proliferation of vectors -> arbovirus is more easily spread