[What is an epidemic

An epidemic is the slow spread of an

in to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of

time, usually two weeks or less. For example, an attack rate above of 15 cases per 100,000 people in two
consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic.

]2nd slide

[Causes of epidemics
Epidemics of infectious disease are generally caused by several
reasons.
One of the reasons are floods, a disaster itself contain many
pathogens in the dirty water it contains. Other than that its water is a
perfect home for some of the vectors. (for example plasmodium s
rd
vector the mosquito breeds in water.)

]3 slide

[Some causes are

Logo of epidemic

Increased virulence (pathogen attacks hosts immune system

ferociously.

Increase of host population

Helpful mutation occurring in the pathogens gene. ]4th slide

[The conditions which govern the outbreak of epidemics include infected food supplies such as contaminated drinking
water and the migration of populations of certain animals, such as rats or mosquitoes, which can act as disease
vectors. Certain epidemics occur at certain seasons.]5th slide
For example, whooping-cough occurs in spring, whereas measles produces two epidemics, one in winter and one in
March. Influenza, the common cold, and other infections of the upper respiratory tract, such as sore throat, occur
predominantly in the winter.

[Types of epidemics
Common source outbreak
In a common source outbreak, the affected individuals had an exposure to a common source. If the exposure is
singular and all of the affected individuals develop the disease over a single exposure, it can be termed a point
source outbreak. If the exposure was continuous or variable, it can be termed a continuous outbreak or intermittent
outbreak, respectively. ]5th slide

[Propagated outbreak
In a propagated outbreak, the disease spreads person-to-person. Affected individuals may spread the disease
further.
Many epidemics will have characteristics of both common source and propagated outbreaks

For example, secondary person-to-person spread may occur after a common source exposure ]6th slide

[Transmission of epidemics

Airborne transmission: Airborne transmission is the spread of infection by droplet nuclei or dust in the air.
Without the intervention of winds or drafts the distance over which airborne infection takes place is short, say 10
to 20 feet.

Arthropod transmission: Arthropod transmission takes place by an insect, either mechanically through a
contaminated proboscis or feet, or biologically when there is growth or replication of an organism in the
arthropod.

Biological transmission: Involving a biological process, e.g. passing a stage of development of the infecting
agent in an intermediate host. Opposite to mechanical transmission.]7

th

slide

[Contact transmission: The disease agent is transferred directly by biting, sucking, chewing or indirectly by
inhalation of droplets, drinking of contaminated water, traveling in contaminated vehicles.

Cyclopropagative transmission: The agent undergoes both development and multiplication in the
transmitting vehicle.

Vertical transmission: From one generation to the next, perhaps transovarially or by

intrauterine infection of the fetus. Some retroviruses are transmitted in the germ line, i.e. their
genetic material is integrated into the DNA of either the ovum or sperm. 8th slide]

[Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in
defined populations. .]9th slide

Examples

[
deat

Plac

hs

2,03

India

When occurred

comments

Pathogen

2015present

2015 Indian swine flu outbreak

Influenza A virus subtype

H1N1

America

2015

Zika virus outbreak in the Americas (2015

present

present)

Zika virus

Hundreds (as of 1 April

Afric

201

2016 yellow fever outbreak in

2016)

Angola

]10

th

yellow fever

slide

Some word meanings

Pathogen the microbe which causes the disease
Vector the vehicleof the pathogen to get to the host.(ex;the
pathogen which causes sleeping sickness uses the tetse fly as a
vector)
Host the host is the creature which is infected by the pathogen
-only in speech