90 Questions
Which term is used to describe an increase in the number of infections that is relatively localized in time and space?
Outbreak
Which term is used to describe the 'usual' or 'expected' persistent level of disease in a given area or community?
Endemic
Which term is used to describe epidemics that cross international boundaries and affect a large number of people worldwide?
Pandemic
Which type of epidemic occurs when a group of persons are exposed to a 'common' source of pathogens?
Point source epidemics
What is the likely public health impact of a newly emerged pathogen with the potential to cause a massive outbreak or pandemic?
Significant impact
What is essential for triggering the correct epidemic response?
Early systematic assessment of the risk
What is the purpose of classifying an epidemic by timing, location, and the characteristics of affected people?
To formulate hypotheses on transmission modes
What is one of the keys to countering emerging infections, according to the text?
Surveillance
What is the purpose of negative pressure rooms in healthcare facilities, as mentioned in the text?
To prevent the escape of pathogens via airborne transmission
What is social distancing, as mentioned in the text?
Prohibiting large public gatherings
Which of the following is NOT a recommended non-pharmaceutical public health measure to reduce transmission of COVID-19?
Avoiding crowding
What are some suggested school measures during a severe epidemic?
All of the above
What does 'flattening the curve' refer to in the context of COVID-19?
Reducing the number of active cases at any given time
What is the concept of 'defence in depth' or 'layered interventions' in the context of COVID-19?
Combining multiple measures to prevent transmission
Which of the following is NOT a recommended measure for outbreak management?
Provide preventive antibiotics and vaccines to high-risk contacts
What is an 'infectious disease emergency'?
Events that involve biological agents/diseases and result in both rapidly escalating case numbers and severe clinical disease
Which of the following is NOT a pathogen that could potentially cause an 'infectious disease emergency'?
Malaria
What are the impacts of pandemics and infectious disease emergencies on health and survival?
Serious risk of mental health impacts
Which one of these is the definition of isolation?
The separation of already infected persons during their period of infectiousness.
Which one of these is the definition of quarantine?
The separation of those who may be potentially capable of transmitting disease, but who are currently free of signs or symptoms of illness.
Which one of these is the definition of infectious disease screening?
The separation of individuals who may have become infected, often while they are still asymptomatic or at an early stage in the progression of the disease.
Which one of these is the definition of disease surveillance?
The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health‐related data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of population health initiatives.
Which term is used to describe an increase in the number of infections that is relatively localized in time and space?
Outbreak
What is the purpose of classifying an epidemic by timing, location, and the characteristics of affected people?
To develop targeted control measures
Which term is used to describe the 'usual' or 'expected' persistent level of disease in a given area or community?
Endemic
Which one of these is the purpose of disease surveillance systems?
To collect and analyze health-related data
Which one of these is the definition of infectious disease control?
The management of outbreaks and the prevention of further spread
Which one of these is the purpose of contact tracing?
To identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed to an infectious disease
Which one of these is the definition of isolation?
The separation of infected individuals during their period of infectiousness
Which one of these is NOT a recommended measure for healthcare facilities in preparation for infectious disease events?
Personal protection equipment
Which one of these is NOT a goal of public protection and personal responsibility in the response to infectious disease events?
Restricting personal movement/activities
Which one of these is NOT an option for preventing further transmission of infectious diseases, according to the text?
Vaccination of the general population
Which type of epidemic occurs when a common source/point epidemic is followed by person-to-person contact and thus propagates?
Mixed epidemics
What is the likely public health impact of a newly emerged pathogen with the potential to cause a massive outbreak or pandemic?
High public health impact
What is the purpose of classifying an epidemic by timing, location, and the characteristics of affected people?
To classify the epidemic as common source, propagated, or mixed
What are some possible components/links in the transmission process of an outbreak?
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a potential cause of an 'infectious disease emergency'?
Cholera
What are some impacts of pandemics and infectious disease emergencies on social and economic functioning?
Loss of work from illness/shutdowns
Which age group is more likely to be disproportionately affected by respiratory pathogens with pandemic potential?
Elderly
What are some potential health impacts of COVID-19?
Increased risk with age/co-existing conditions
Which one of these is NOT a key measure in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak control?
Surface and object cleaning
Which one of these is NOT a recommended measure for managing infectious disease emergencies?
Border closures
Which one of these is the most accurate description of the concept of 'defence in depth' or 'layered interventions' in the context of COVID-19?
Implementing multiple measures simultaneously to increase protection against infection
Which one of these is the most accurate description of 'flattening the curve' in the context of COVID-19?
Reducing the number of active cases at any given time to prevent overwhelming the healthcare system
True or false: Responses to major infectious disease events involve coordination across multiple agencies and areas of expertise
True
True or false: Prevention is the key to countering emerging infections
True
True or false: Preparedness involves developing an emergency management plan and evaluating the level of preparedness
True
True or false: The response to infectious disease events needs to be rapid and coordinated across multiple sectors
True
True or false: An outbreak refers to an increase in the number of infections that is relatively localized in time and space.
True
True or false: Endemic refers to the steady background state of infection in a given area or community.
True
True or false: Pandemic is strictly defined as any epidemic that crosses international boundaries and affects a large number of people worldwide.
False
True or false: Effective communication is not important in outbreak management.
False
True or false: Infectious disease emergencies are events that involve biological agents and result in rapidly escalating case numbers and severe clinical disease.
True
True or false: Viruses such as COVID-19, SARS, and Ebola can potentially cause infectious disease emergencies.
True
True or false: Pandemics and ID emergencies only pose major threats to the population health in terms of morbidity and not mortality.
False
True or false: Hand hygiene is only recommended for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19.
False
True or false: School closures should be reactive rather than proactive during a severe epidemic.
False
True or false: Combining multiple measures in infectious disease control is less effective than implementing single measures.
False
True or false: 'Flattening the curve' refers to reducing the number of active cases at any given time.
True
True or false: An early systematic assessment of the risk or potential threat posed by an infectious disease event is not necessary to trigger the correct epidemic response.
False
True or false: Common source epidemics occur when a group of persons are exposed to a 'common' source of pathogens.
True
True or false: Propagated epidemics occur when the disease continues to spread and cases occur over and over.
True
True or false: Mixed epidemics occur when a common source epidemic is followed by person-to-person contact and thus propagates.
True
True or false: Isolation refers to the separation of those who may be potentially capable of transmitting disease, but who are currently free of signs or symptoms of illness.
False
True or false: Infectious disease screening is one of the measures taken once an infection event (or outbreak) has occurred in order to stop progression or to limit further spread.
True
True or false: Surveillance systems in infectious disease control only collect data and do not respond in any way.
False
True or false: Notifiable disease reporting is when certain diseases are identified and health workers are legally obliged to contact a central public health agency.
True
What factors determine whether an outbreak requires an urgent response?
The likely public health impact and the potential to cause a massive outbreak or pandemic.
What are the three types of epidemics described in the text?
Common source epidemics, propagated epidemics, and mixed epidemics.
Give an example of a common source epidemic.
Salmonella outbreak from contaminated chicken at a buffet lunch.
What are the recommended control measures for an outbreak?
Treatment of cases and control measures to reduce the spread or prevent recurrence (e.g. improving sanitation/water supply, immunization).
What is the difference between isolation and quarantine in the context of infectious disease control?
Isolation refers to the separation of already infected persons during their period of infectiousness, while quarantine refers to the separation of those who may be potentially capable of transmitting disease but are currently free of signs or symptoms of illness.
What are the key measures in disease surveillance and outbreak control?
Surveillance systems form the foundation of successful infectious disease control. They allow communities to anticipate the emergence of infectious diseases, support outbreak responses, and facilitate monitoring and evaluation of responses.
What is the role of surveillance systems in infectious disease control?
Surveillance systems collect, analyze, and interpret health-related data essential for planning, implementing, and evaluating population health initiatives. They form the foundation of successful infectious disease control.
What is the purpose of notifiable disease reporting?
Notifiable disease reporting ensures that when certain diseases are identified, health workers contact a central public health agency to initiate an effective and timely response.
What are the four principles of emergency management?
PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, RECOVERY
What are some common potential drivers of infections?
uncontrolled urbanisation, climate factors, trade and transport practices, modes of food production, human migration patterns, patterns of animal movements into new habitats
What are some key elements of preparedness for infectious disease events?
developing an emergency management plan, practicing the plan, evaluating preparedness levels, preparing healthcare facilities, stockpiling antibiotics or antiviral medications, providing respiratory protection for staff and support teams, having laboratory support
What are some measures for responding to infectious disease events?
promptly reporting unusual diseases or clusters, triaging and isolating patients suspected of infection, balancing public protection with dignity and privacy, mobilizing emergency and clinical services, providing general supportive therapy, preventing further transmission through screening, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, social distancing, personal protection, and vaccination
Define the terms 'outbreak', 'endemic', and 'epidemic' in the context of communicable disease control.
Outbreak refers to an increase in the number of infections that is relatively localized in time and space. Endemic refers to the usual or expected persistent level of disease in a given area or community. Epidemic refers to a rise in case numbers above the background or expected rate of the disease in a community or region.
How is pandemic strictly defined and how is it commonly applied in practice?
Pandemic is strictly defined as any epidemics that cross international boundaries and affect a large number of people worldwide. However, in practice, it is usually applied to infections that pose a serious risk to public health and cause severe illness with little population immunity. It does not include cyclical or seasonal infections like regular seasonal flu.
What are the key concepts in communicable disease control?
The key concepts in communicable disease control include outbreaks and epidemics, which are defined as an increase in the number of infections that is relatively localized in time and space, the usual or expected persistent level of disease in a given area or community, and a rise in case numbers above the background or expected rate of the disease in a community or region.
What are the key elements of effective communication in outbreak management?
The key elements of effective communication in outbreak management include prompt and accurate relaying of information to all stakeholders, transparency and unambiguous messaging, acknowledgement of uncertainty, and dissemination of information to the public, media, and decision-makers.
What is an infectious disease emergency?
An infectious disease emergency refers to events that involve biological agents/diseases and result in rapidly escalating case numbers and severe clinical disease. These events often present challenges in achieving effective community control.
Which kinds of pathogens have the potential to cause infectious disease emergencies?
Pathogens such as viruses (e.g., pandemic influenza, coronaviruses, Ebola) and bacteria (e.g., bubonic plague, anthrax, cholera) have the potential to cause infectious disease emergencies.
What are the impacts of pandemics and infectious disease emergencies on health and survival?
Pandemics and infectious disease emergencies pose major threats to population health in terms of morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). They can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as the very young, the elderly, and individuals with impaired immune systems or chronic diseases. Additionally, they can have significant mental health impacts and disrupt social and economic functioning.
What is the concept of 'flattening the curve' in the context of COVID-19 and why is it important?
'Flattening the curve' refers to reducing the number of active cases at any given time in order to give both health services and other essential services time to prepare and respond, without becoming overwhelmed. It is important because it aims to avoid a large spike of cases that cannot be managed by the health system and to reduce the case numbers to a lower level over a longer time to keep the cases below the level of maximum health system capacity.
What is the concept of 'defence in depth' or 'layered interventions' in the context of COVID-19 and why are they more effective than single measures?
'Defence in depth' or 'layered interventions' refer to combining multiple measures to reduce the risk of infection. They are more effective than single measures because each measure may have 'holes' or limitations, but when multiple measures are combined, the holes are less likely to align and the pathogen will not be able to slip through. Combining measures may increase protection but will inevitably increase their overall cost.
What are some recommended non-pharmaceutical public health measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19?
Some recommended non-pharmaceutical public health measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19 include hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, face masks for symptomatic individuals, voluntary isolation of ill individuals, surface and object cleaning, health advice for travelers, avoiding crowding, school closures and other measures, and workplace closures and measures.
What is the purpose of contact tracing in the context of infectious disease control?
The purpose of contact tracing is to identify and locate individuals who have been in close contact with an infected person in order to assess their risk of infection, provide necessary support and guidance, and prevent further transmission of the disease.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Effective Communication in Outbreak Management
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