Regarding epidemiology, the expectation is that analyzing the distribution of cases in a community or region and uncovering the distinguishing characteristics of the affected individuals or groups will teach us something about the causes of a particular disease and the methods by which it spreads. Epidemiological methods can also be quite important in identifying groups of individuals who are at risk.

Epidemiological Methods 

Features of Epidemiology include:

- Etiology
- Disease transmission
- Morbidity
- Morbidity rate
- Mortality
- Mortality rate

Features of Epidemiology

Traditional model for infectious disease that consits of an agent/pathogen, a susceptible host, and an environment.  Disease is a result of an agent/pathogen and a susceptible host interacting in an environment that enables transmission. 

Epidemiological Triangle

Pioneers in epidemiology include:
- John Snow
- Florence Nightingale
- Ignaz Semmelweis
- Joseph Lister
- Robert Koch
- Louis Pasteur

Pioneers in Epidemiology

Multiple international public health agencies have worked towards improving public health and healthcare programs, monitoring disease risks, and communicating and coordinating with other international agencies to uphold global public health.

Global Public Health

The study of the incidence, prevalence, and distribution of illness or disease in a given population

University of Notre Dame

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. The diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from person to person. 

Infectious Disease

OpenStax Concepts of Biology provides the necessary breadth and depth for core Biology concepts.

Link: https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology/

OpenStax Biology 2nd Edition

https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology/

Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.

Microbiology is produced through a collaborative publishing agreement between OpenStax and the American Society for Microbiology Press. The book aligns with the curriculum guidelines of the American Society for Microbiology.

OpenStax Microbiology Textbook

Pandemic refers to a new infectious disease that spread worldwide. A pandemic is not the same as an epidemic as the disease spreads beyond a select community or region. The World Health Organization (WHO) is responsible for declaring when a global pandemic is occurring by monitoring outbreaks of disease and receiving advice from international health experts. 


Pandemic

"A case definition is a set of standard criteria for classifying whether a person has a particular disease, syndrome, or other health condition. "

Definition of Case Definition

“Cluster refers to an aggregation of cases grouped in place and time that are suspected to be greater than the number expected, even though the expected number may not be known”

Cluster Transmission Definition

Time between a primary case having symptom onset and a secondary case having symptom onset.

Serial Interval Definition

$\frac{number of new cases among contacts}{total number of contacts}$ 


Secondary Attack Rate Definition

- PubMed
- Lumen Learning
- Textbooks
- WHO
- The Gulf of Mexico: A "Hot Zone" for Tropical Diseases?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Human Rickettsialpox, Southeastern Mexico
- The SARS-CoV-2 crisis and its impact on neglected tropical diseases: Threat or opportunity?
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- A Handful Of ‘Antipoverty’ Vaccines Exist For Neglected Diseases, But The World’s Poorest Billion People Need More
- Pregnancy Associated Arbovirus Infections
- Covid-19: Implications for People with Chagas Disease

References for Infectious Disease

- Vector-Borne Diseases
- Arboviruses Causing Pregnancy Associated Infections
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Zoonotic Diseases

Categories of Infectious Diseases



The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at a higher risk of serious complications.  The two main types of the flu are Types A and B, which are routinely spread in people and  responsible for the seasonal flu epidemics that occur each year.

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