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* List and recognize examples of different modes of transmission

* Calculate health-related rates (attack, incidence, prevalence, case fatality)

* Calculate a simple relative risk and describe what it means

* Interpret epi curves, temporal patters and other simple graphic presentations of health data

* List, discuss, and recognize examples of disease-causing agents (physical and biological)

* Demonstrate an understanding and ability to use terms such as endemic, epidemic, pandemic, and concepts such as population versus sample and association versus cause

* Describe various types of prevention and control strategies, such as immunization, behavior change, etc., and situations where they might be used

The Basics

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of distribution and determinants of health-related states in specified populations, and the application of this to control health problems. There are four basic reasons for why disease detectives study and research outbreaks and epidemics. These reasons are: Control and Prevention, Research Opportunities, Training, and Legal Concerns.

Two Basic Types of Epidemiology

Classical Epidemiology - population oriented, studies community origins of health problems related to nutrition, environment, human behavior, and the psychological, social, and spiritual state of a population. The event is more aimed towards this type of epidemiology.

Clinical Epidemiology - studies patients in health care settings in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and the prognosis for patients already affected by a disease. These can be further divided into:

Infectious Disease Epidemiology - heavily dependent on laboratory support

Chronic Disease Epidemiology - dependent on complex sampling and statistical methods

Basic Epidemiology Terms

Cluster - An aggregation of cases over a particular period closely grouped in time and space, regardless of whether the number is more than the expected...