Module 2 Key Terms & Concepts

What is an active carrier?

An individual who is infected with a pathogen and can transmit the disease to others.

What does active primary prevention involve?

Interventions aimed at preventing the onset of disease before it occurs.

What is an agent in epidemiology?

The factor that causes or contributes to a health problem or condition.

What is airborne transmission?

The spread of infectious agents through the air over distances greater than 6 feet.

What is analytic epidemiology?

The branch of epidemiology that deals with investigating the causes and effects of health-related states.

What is biological transmission?

The transfer of a pathogen from one host to another via a vector that is part of the pathogen's life cycle.

What is a carrier?

An individual who harbors a pathogen and can transmit it to others without necessarily being ill.

What does case refer to in epidemiology?

An instance of a disease or condition in a defined population.

What is a case definition?

A set of criteria that must be met for an individual to be classified as having a particular disease.

What is case severity?

The extent of the disease's impact on the individual, ranging from mild to critical.

What is a cause in the context of diseases?

The factor or factors that lead to the occurrence of a disease or health condition.

What is the chain of infection?

The process by which an infection is transmitted from one host to another.

What is a common-source epidemic?

An outbreak of disease that arises from a shared source of contamination.

What is a convalescent carrier?

A person who has recovered from a disease but still harbors the pathogen.

What is descriptive epidemiology?

The study of the distribution of disease by person, place, and time.

What is direct transmission?

The immediate transfer of a pathogen from one person to another through physical contact.

What is effectiveness in epidemiological terms?

The degree to which a preventive measure achieves its desired outcome in the real world.

What is efficacy in terms of disease prevention?

The degree to which a preventive measure produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions.

What does endemic mean?

The constant presence of a disease within a given geographic area or population.

What is the environment in the context of epidemiology?

All external factors that can influence the health of individuals or populations.

What is an epidemic?

A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population.

What is epidemiology?

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.

What is a fomite?

Inanimate objects or material that are likely to carry infection.

What is a healthy carrier?

An individual who carries a pathogen but does not exhibit symptoms of the disease.

What is a host in epidemiology?

An organism that harbors a pathogen.

What is an incubatory carrier?

An individual who has been infected but is not yet symptomatic and can still spread the disease.

What is an index case?

The first case of a disease identified in an epidemiological investigation.

What is indirect transmission?

The transfer of a pathogen through an intermediate object or organism.

What is an intermittent carrier?

An individual who can transmit a pathogen at certain times but not continuously.

What is mechanical transmission?

The transmission of pathogens by a vector without the pathogen undergoing developmental changes.

What is a mixed epidemic?

An epidemic that involves both common-source and propagated transmission.

What are modes of disease transmission?

The various pathways through which a pathogen can spread from one host to another.

What is a pandemic?

An epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents.

What is a passive carrier?

An individual who carries a pathogen but does not actively transmit it.

What does passive primary prevention involve?

Preventive measures that do not require individual action to prevent disease.

What is a pathogen?

An organism, virus, or agent that causes disease.

What is a portal of entry?

The route through which a pathogen enters a susceptible host.

What is a portal of exit?

The route through which a pathogen exits its host to infect another.

What is a primary case?

The first case of disease in a defined population.

What is primary prevention?

Measures taken to prevent the occurrence of disease.

What is a propagated epidemic?

An epidemic that spreads from person to person.

What does rehabilitation refer to?

The process of restoring a person to health after illness or injury.

What is a reservoir in epidemiology?

The natural habitat where a pathogen lives and multiplies.

What is a risk factor?

Any attribute, characteristic, or exposure that increases the likelihood of developing a disease.

What is a secondary case?

An individual who contracts a disease from a primary case.

What is secondary prevention?

Measures taken to detect and treat disease in its early stages.

What is a suspect case?

An individual who meets certain criteria but has not yet been confirmed with a disease.

What is tertiary prevention?

Measures aimed at reducing the impact of an ongoing illness.

What is time in epidemiology?

A crucial factor in understanding the occurrence and distribution of disease.

What is a vector?

An organism that transmits a pathogen to a host.

What is vector-borne transmission?

The transfer of a pathogen through a vector, such as mosquitoes.

What is a vehicle in epidemiology?

An inanimate object or material that carries a pathogen.

What is vehicle-borne transmission?

The transfer of pathogens through contaminated inanimate objects.

What is zoonosis?

An infectious disease that is transmitted between animals and humans.