Infectivity

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Infectivity

Infectivity (/ɪnˌfɛktɪˈvɪti/) is a term used in epidemiology to describe the ability of a pathogen to establish an infection. The term is often used in relation to viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms that cause disease.

Etymology

The term "infectivity" is derived from the Latin word "infectus", which means to taint or corrupt, and the suffix "-ivity", which denotes a condition or quality.

Definition

Infectivity is the measure of the ability of a pathogen to establish an infection. It is one of the three main variables that make up the basic reproduction number (R0), which is used to measure the transmission potential of a disease. The other two variables are the duration of infectiousness and the contact rate.

Related Terms

  • Pathogen: A biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.
  • Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
  • R0: The basic reproduction number, an epidemiologic metric used to describe the contagiousness or transmissibility of infectious agents.
  • Infectiousness: The state of being able to spread disease.
  • Microorganism: A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

See Also

External links

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