Epidemiology is the scientific study (by epidemiologists) of those influences that govern and affect the occurrence and pattern of spread of illness, and other health phenomena, and their etiologies, for a specific population. The aim of this science is to find initiatives that can prevent and stymie the progression and propagation of these diseases, and associated phenomena 1.
Terms
- attack rate
- basic reproductive number (R0)
- case fatality rate
- chain of transmission
- effective reproductive number (R)
- endemic
- epidemic
- host
- incidence
- incubation period
- mortality rate
- opportunistic infection
- outbreak
- pandemic
- pathogen
- prevalence
- surveillance
- syndemic
- transmission
- vector
- zoonosis
History and etymology
The term epidemiology is derived from the roots 'epidemic' and '-logy'. Epidemic is ultimately derived from the Classical Greek, ἐπί (epi) meaning "near/upon/above" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "people". '-logy' is a combining form meaning the scientific study of, itself ultimately derived from the Greek word λογος (logos) meaning word 2-4.
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