Epidemiology Flashcards
Case
An animal or human in a population or study group that has a particular disease, health disorder, or condition under investigation
Case definition
A set of uniform criteria used to define a case or instance of disease for public health surveillance
Cause
A factor that directly influences the occurrence of disease
Disease
Illness or loss of health
Reportable disease
A disease that misreported to the relevan health departments when an animal or person is diagnosed with a particular disease
Endemic (human population)/ Epizootic (animal population)
The constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group
Epidemic (human population)/ Epizootic (animal population)
The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group over a particular period of time. Note: OUTBREAK. Synonymous with an epidemic
Epidemiology
The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems
Herd immunity
The indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection
Host
An animal or person that can be infected by an infectious agent
Incubation period
The time interval between when an animal or person is exposed to an infectious agent and when they begin to develop symptoms
Infection
The invasion and growth of organisms in the body that can cause disease
Epidemiological studies
Observational studies, in which one observes the course of a disease and clinical trials, which are used to evaluate preventive or therapeutic interventions
Pandemic
An epidemic occurs over a very wide area and usually affects a large proportion of the population
Reservoir
The habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies
