Disease outbreak

Disease outbreak refers to the occurrence of cases of disease in a population, geographic area, or season that is greater than what is normally expected. It is often used for a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease. Outbreaks can occur in a community or geographical area, or can affect several countries. They can last for a few days or weeks, or for several years. Some outbreaks are expected each year, such as influenza. Sometimes a single case of a contagious disease is considered an outbreak. This may be true if it is an unknown disease, is new to a community, or has been absent from a population for a long time.

Causes

Disease outbreaks are usually caused by an infection, transmitted through person-to-person contact, animal-to-person contact, or from the environment or other media. Outbreaks may also occur following exposure to chemicals or to radioactive materials.

Types of Outbreaks

There are several different types of disease outbreaks, including epidemic, pandemic, and endemic. An epidemic occurs when a disease affects a greater number people than is usual for the locality or one that spreads to areas not usually associated with the disease. A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic of a disease. An endemic is an outbreak that occurs predictably in certain populations or in a certain area.

Prevention and Control

Prevention and control of disease outbreaks involve several steps, including surveillance, investigation, response, and evaluation. Surveillance is the ongoing collection and analysis of data about a disease. Investigation involves determining the cause of the outbreak and how it is spreading. Response includes taking action to prevent further spread of the disease and treating those who are ill. Evaluation involves assessing the effectiveness of the response and making changes as needed.

See Also

• Epidemic
• Pandemic
• Endemic
• Infectious Disease
• Public Health

References

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