Words to Know

Question 1

Outbreak

Answer 1

More cases of a particular disease than expected in a certain area or among a group of ppl

Question 2

Cluster

Answer 2

A bunch of cases grouped closely

Question 3

Pandemic

Answer 3

An epidemic, but it goes over several countries/continents. Ex: Covid-19. Large % pop. affected

Question 4

Risk

Answer 4

The probability that someone will be infected or die from a disease or injury within a certain time.

Question 5

Vector

Answer 5

An organism that transmits the infection as a mosquito transmits the malaria protozoans.

Question 6

Fomite

Answer 6

A physical object that serves to transmit an infectious agent from person to person. Ex: A Comb spreading lice.

Question 7

Zoonosis

Answer 7

An infectious disease that is transmissible from animals to people.

Question 8

Surveillance

Answer 8

Systematic, ongoing collection, analysis, & dissemination of medical data.

Purpose: To gain knowledge of patterns of disease, injury, & other health problems in a community so that we can work towards control & prevention.

Question 9

Communicable Disease

Answer 9

Disease associated with an agent that can be spread.

Question 10

Disinfectant

Answer 10

Agent that kills, inhibits, or removes microorganisms that may cause diease.

Question 11

Incubation Period

Answer 11

Time between becoming infected & the manifestation of the illness.

Question 12

Population

Answer 12

of ppl in an area

Question 13

Hypothesis

Answer 13

educated guess

Question 14

Virus

Answer 14

Non-living particles that can only reproduce inside a living organism

Question 15

Bacteria

Answer 15

unicellular organism that multiplies through cell division.

Ex: Botulism, or Anthrax. Can treat w/ antibiotics.

Question 16

Epidemology

Answer 16

Elements that contribute to the occurrence or non-occurrence of a disease in a population or community

Question 17

Reservoir

Answer 17

A species of organism that causes another organism to get sick.

Question 18

Endemic

Answer 18

A disease that is under control in an area.

Question 19

Epidemic

Answer 19

large numbers of people over a wide geographic area affected. (not global)

Question 20

Vaccine

Answer 20

Trains immune system to recognize and destroy an infectious agent faster, hopefully preventing illness

Question 21

Epidemiologist

Answer 21

A person that studies the diseases and the infectious agent.

Question 22

Disease Distribution

Answer 22

The pattern of how a sickness is spread in a population.

Question 23

Risk Factor

Answer 23

Factors that increase odds of contracting illness

Question 24

Incubation Period

Answer 24

Time between infection & symptoms

Question 25

Transmission

Answer 25

Spreading the disease

Question 26

Antibody

Answer 26

The cells that fight against the infectious agent.

Question 27

Antibiotic

Answer 27

Treatment for bacterial infections

Question 28

Pathogen

Answer 28

The infectious agent.

Question 29

Contagious

Answer 29

Disease that spreads

Question 30

Ciguatoxin

Answer 30

Marine toxins. People can be exposed to a HAB (Harmful Algal Blooms) or HAB toxins when they swim, wade, or play in or near contaminated water; eat contaminated fish or shellfish; or use contaminated drinking water. Can cause skin irritation, breathing difficulty, etc.

Question 31

pandemic

Answer 31

An epidemic occurring over a very wide area (several countries or continents) and usually affecting a large proportion of the population. (can be global)

Question 32

public health surveillance

Answer 32

the systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data to gain knowledge of the pattern of disease occurrence in order to control and prevent disease in the community.

Question 33

Virulence

Answer 33

Degree or intensity of pathogenicity of an organism

Question 34

Compromised host

Answer 34

Host with lowered resistance to infection

Question 35

Nosocomial infection

Answer 35

an infection traced back to the hospital

Question 36

Infectivity

Answer 36

Capacity to cause infection in a susceptible host

Question 37

Case Definition

Answer 37

The onset of ___(symptoms) in a ____(person) at ______(time & place)

Question 38

Confirmed

Answer 38

Diagnosis by lab verification

Question 39

Probable

Answer 39

Many factors point to diagnosis, but no lab verification

Question 40

Suspected

Answer 40

Some factors point to diagnosis

Question 41

Resevoir

Answer 41

Site that harbors pathogenic organisms

Question 42

Morbidity Rate

Answer 42

num of exposed num of sick / num exposed

Question 43

Mortality Rate

Answer 43

#dead per 100,000 population

Question 44

Case Fatality Rate

Answer 44

#dead / #sick

Question 45

2 Triads

Answer 45

Person, place, time; agent, host, environment

Question 46

Index Case

Answer 46

First case of an outbreak