Epidemics and outbreak investigations

Question 1

Endemic

Answer 1

habitual presence of a disease within a given geographic area or usual occurrence of a disease with in such an area (flu)

Question 2

Epidemic

Answer 2

occurrence in a community or region of a group of illness of similar nature clearly in excess of the normal expectancy or endemic level, disease occurring at a greater frequency (aids/hiv)

Question 3

pandemic

Answer 3

worldwide epidemic; typically causes significant illness and death

Question 4

steps in outbreak investigation

Answer 4

1) establish existence of outbreak
2) define case
3) identify cases
4) examine distribution of cases using descriptive epi: person, place, time
5) look for combination of relevant variables : develop hypothesis
6) analytic epi- test hypothesis
7) recommend control measures
8) prepare written report of findings
9) communicate findings to public