Epidemiology and Public Health Terms

Questions and Answers

An infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans is called a:

Epidemic

Zoonosis (correct)

Outbreak

Pandemic

Which of the following is NOT an example of a zoonotic disease?

Rabies

Ebola

Avian influenza

Measles (correct)

An outbreak of a disease is typically characterized by:

A localized increase in cases within a specific population. (correct)

A decrease in cases compared to the previous year.

A sudden increase in cases over a large geographical area.

A slow, gradual increase in cases over a long period.

What is the difference between an epidemic and an outbreak?

An outbreak is a localized increase in cases, while an epidemic is a wider spread. Signup and view all the answers

A foodborne illness that affects a group of people who have eaten the same contaminated food is an example of a:

Common-vehicle exposure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases is NOT typically considered an epidemic?

Polio Signup and view all the answers

The primary role of public health in relation to disease is:

Surveillance and monitoring of disease patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between an epidemic and a pandemic?

An epidemic is a local event, while a pandemic is a global event. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of international measures in the context of public health?

To protect populations against the known risk of infection from international sources Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following institutions can provide national authorities with services such as laboratory diagnosis and consultation?

WHO Collaborating Centres Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of quarantine as a public health practice?

To restrict the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine as public health practices?

Isolation separates people who have a contagious disease, while quarantine separates people who may have been exposed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a reference for searching for updates in health information?

Wikipedia Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the new section on measures in case of deliberate use of biological agents to cause harm?

Guidelines for public health workers on responding to deliberate use of biological agents Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the WHO Collaborating Centres and other operational institutions?

To provide national authorities with services such as laboratory diagnosis and consultation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between isolation and quarantine in terms of the people they affect?

Isolation affects people who are sick, while quarantine affects people who may have been exposed Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of epidemiologic surveillance as defined by the CDC?

To collect and analyze health data for public health practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the specific ways in which an infectious agent is transmitted to humans?

Mode of transmission. Signup and view all the answers

What does the incubation period refer to in an infectious disease context?

The interval between initial contact with an infectious agent and symptom appearance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a 'portal of exit'?

A way for microorganisms to leave their reservoir. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'reservoir' in the context of infectious agents?

Any organism or substance where an infectious agent can multiply. Signup and view all the answers

What best defines the period of communicability?

The time during which an infectious agent can be transmitted. Signup and view all the answers

What does susceptibility indicate regarding a population?

The likelihood of being at risk or resistant to disease. Signup and view all the answers

Which mode of transmission involves the transfer of infectious agents via direct or indirect contact?

Contact transmission. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a 'vector' mode of transmission?

Involves living organisms that carry pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the carrier state of an individual?

They can transmit the organism without being clinically ill. Signup and view all the answers

Which method of infectious disease control focuses on preventing further spread from infected individuals?

Control of patient, contacts, and the immediate environment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes direct contact transmission?

Infection through physical interaction with an infected individual. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies a long-term carrier?

Typhoid Mary, who carried Salmonella typhi. Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of epidemic measures in disease control?

To limit disease spread during focused emergency situations. Signup and view all the answers

What statement about the carrier state is incorrect?

Carriers always show symptoms of illness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration regarding disaster implications in disease control?

The likelihood of disease outbreaks increases if preventive measures aren’t taken. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to the development of disease according to the content?

Social factors Signup and view all the answers

Based on the provided definition, what is the primary focus of epidemiology?

Understanding the distribution and determinants of health-related states Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'endemic level' refer to in the context of a disease within a specific geographic area?

The usual or expected occurrence of the disease in that area. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST reflects the underlying premise of epidemiology, as presented in the content?

Disease distribution is influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key element in the 'epidemiological triad' that contributes to disease development?

Vector Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, how does the WHO definition of health differ from a traditional view of health?

It emphasizes the importance of social well-being in addition to physical well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the fact that the WHO definition of health has remained unchanged since 1948?

It underscores the enduring importance of comprehensive well-being for human health. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Health?

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition has not been amended since 1948.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.
It involves the application of this study to control health problems.
Epidemiology is the study of how disease is distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine this distribution.

Epidemiological Levels of Disease

Endemic refers to the habitual presence of a disease within a given geographic area, also known as the baseline or endemic level of the disease.
Epidemic refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area.
Outbreak carries the same definition as epidemic, but is often used for a more limited geographic area.
Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.

Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted between species from animals to humans (or from humans to animals).
Examples of zoonotic diseases include Anthrax, brucellosis, avian flu, COVID-19, Ebola, and rabies.

Surveillance

Surveillance is a fundamental role of public health, involving the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines epidemiologic surveillance as essential to planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice.

Surveillance System

Information is collected to monitor changes in disease frequency or to monitor changes in the levels of risks for specific diseases.
Surveillance may be carried out to provide information on morbidity and mortality from disease.

Reservoir, Portal of Exit, and Portal of Entry

Reservoir: any person, animal, arthropod, plant, substance, or combination of these in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies.
Portal of exit: the way for a microorganism to leave the reservoir, e.g., through the nose or mouth when someone sneezes or coughs.
Portal of entry: the means by which the infectious microorganisms gain access into the new host, e.g., through ingestion, breathing, or skin puncture.

Mode of Transmission, Incubation Period, and Period of Communicability

Mode of transmission: describes the mechanisms by which the infectious agent is spread to humans, e.g., Contact, Droplet, Airborne, Vector, and Common Vehicle.
Incubation period: the time interval between initial contact with the infectious organism and the first appearance of symptoms.
Period of communicability: the time during which an infectious agent may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected person to another person, or from an infected animal to humans, or from an infected person to animals.

Susceptibility, Carrier State, and Methods of Control

Susceptibility: provides information on human or animal populations at risk of infection, or that are resistant to either infection or disease.
Carrier state: a situation where the individual harbors the organism, but is not infected, and can still infect others.
Methods of control of infectious diseases include preventive measures, control of patients, contacts, and the immediate environment, epidemic measures, disaster implications, international measures, and measures in case of deliberate use of biological agents to cause harm.

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Description

This quiz covers key terms related to epidemiology and public health, including infectious diseases and the WHO definition of health. Learn about the basics of epidemiology and its importance in medicine.