Epidemiology - Handout 2 Flashcards
What is the definition of epidemiology?
It is the study of the occurance, distribution, and control of diseases
What is the role of a public health officer?
- Assess risk to the population
- Determine if there is a reservoir, vector, or a vaccine, and who should be vaccinated
Define prevalence.
Percent or proportion of population infected at one point in time.
Define incidence.
Number of new cases over time, often per year. Reported on a population basis, often per 100,000 people.
Define mortality.
Number of deaths in a population.
Define morbidity.
Incidence in the population.
Define comorbidity.
Other diseases in the same patient.
Define endemic.
Always present in the population, low morbidity or death rate.
Define pandemic.
Spread to multiple continents.
Define virulence.
Ability of an organism to cause disease – may be used to describe case fatality.
Define pathogenicity.
Likelihood that an infected person will show clinical symptoms.
Define infectiousness.
Number of exposed patients who become ill.
What is a reservoir?
An animate or inanimate source of disease.
What is a vector?
Something that transmits disease.
Ex: Mosquitoes are the vector for West Nile
What is a carrier?
A person who is infected yet has no symptoms.
