Epidemics

Which antibiotic was developed from a fungus and has been used to cure many illnesses that could have led to epidemics?

• aspirin

• ethanol

• penicillin

• acetaminophen

Which best compares an epidemic and a pandemic?

• An epidemic is caused by bacteria, while a pandemic is caused by a virus.

• A pandemic is caused by humans, while an epidemic is spread by insects and rodents.

• A pandemic occurs in a small region, while an epidemic occurs in a much larger region.

• An epidemic affects a small population of humans, while a pandemic affects a large population of humans.

On Monday, Kari exhibits no symptoms of a viral illness. She is sick on Tuesday and stays home from school. On Wednesday, her friends stay home with the same illness, despite having no contact with Kari when she was sick on Tuesday. Which is the most likely explanation of how the other students became sick?

• Kari was immune to the virus but infected the other students

• The virus mutated and infected the other students after Kari got sick

• Kari was infected with the virus before she experienced any symptoms

• The virus was a carrier, and the other students were infected after Kari got sick.

Which best describes treatments for viral epidemics and viral pandemics?

• Both are easily treated using a combination of vaccination and antibiotics

• Epidemics are treated with vaccinations, while pandemics are treated with antibiotics

• Epidemics are treated with antibiotics, while pandemics are treated with vaccinations.

• Neither is easily treated because viral infections are easier to prevent than they are to treat.

Which would most likely prevent a cold virus from spreading through a classroom?

• Have a large supply of tissues on the teacher's desk.

• Have all students wash their hands regularly with soap.

• Have all students shake hands regularly with all students.

• Have all students wipe desk with dry paper towel as end of class.

Which most likely spreads disease such as rabies or Lyme disease?

• contact with an infected animal

• contact with an infected human

• ingesting contaminated food

• breathing contaminated air

A mosquito can spread the West Nile Virus but remains unaffected by the disease. Which best describes the mosquito?

• vector

• parasite

• mutagen

• pathogen

How are an epidemic and pandemic alike?

• Both involve a viral infection

• Both involve a bacterial infection.

• Both involve an outbreak of a disease.

• Both involve small numbers of infected individuals

A disease that has a large outbreak in an area and affects many people

• pandemic

• endemic

• epidemic

• outbreak

Organisms that cause disease are called __________________.

• hosts

• pathogens

• Phagocytes

• Flagellum