Visualizing Public Health Data

What type of graph is typically used to show how many new cases of a disease occur over time?

• Pie chart

• Histogram

• Line graph

• Epi curve

Answer explanation

An epi curve is specifically designed to show the number of new disease cases over time, making it the best choice for tracking disease outbreaks. Other graphs like pie charts and histograms serve different purposes.

Which of the following would be shown on the y-axis of an epi curve?

• The type of disease

• The number of new cases

• The severity of symptoms

• The total population affected

Answer explanation

The y-axis of an epi curve represents the number of new cases over time, illustrating the disease's spread. Therefore, the correct choice is 'The number of new cases'.

What does the x-axis of an epi curve typically represent?

• The number of cases

• The types of diseases

• The timeline of when new cases occurred

• The severity of the disease

Answer explanation

The x-axis of an epi curve represents the timeline of when new cases occurred, allowing for the visualization of the spread of disease over time.

An epidemic curve that has a sharp peak and then drops quickly is indicative of which type of outbreak?

• Continuous common source outbreak

• Propagated outbreak

• Point source outbreak

• Intermittent common source outbreak

Answer explanation

A point source outbreak is characterized by a sharp peak in the epidemic curve, indicating that a group of people were exposed to the same source of infection at a specific time, followed by a rapid decline.

In a propagated outbreak, how does the disease spread?

• Through a single common source

• From one person to another

• At the same time from a point source

• With irregular timing from a common source

Answer explanation

In a propagated outbreak, the disease spreads from one person to another, typically through direct contact or respiratory droplets, leading to a chain of transmission. This distinguishes it from outbreaks caused by a single source.

Which type of outbreak is characterized by cases that happen over a longer period due to exposure to a single source?

• Continuous common source outbreak

• Point source outbreak

• Propagated outbreak

• Intermittent common source outbreak

Answer explanation

A continuous common source outbreak occurs when cases arise over an extended period from a single source, leading to ongoing exposure. This distinguishes it from point source outbreaks, which are brief and sudden.

How can flattening the epidemic curve help public health?

• It speeds up the spread of disease

• It prevents the disease from spreading completely

• It helps reduce the strain on healthcare systems

• It eliminates the disease from the community

Answer explanation

Flattening the epidemic curve helps reduce the strain on healthcare systems by spreading out the number of cases over time, allowing for better resource allocation and care for patients.

A disease where exposure happens at irregular intervals and not all at once is called:

• Point source outbreak

• Intermittent common source outbreak

• Propagated outbreak

• Continuous common source outbreak

Answer explanation

An intermittent common source outbreak occurs when exposure to the disease happens at irregular intervals, unlike a point source outbreak where exposure is simultaneous. This makes the correct answer 'Intermittent common source outbreak'.

What is the purpose of an incubation period in understanding an outbreak?

• To determine the most dangerous symptoms

• To track the number of deaths

• To identify the exact time of exposure

• To understand the delay between exposure and symptom onset

Answer explanation

The incubation period helps understand the delay between exposure to a pathogen and the onset of symptoms, which is crucial for controlling outbreaks and implementing timely interventions.

What type of outbreak would have cases occurring at almost the same time after exposure to a single source?

• Continuous common source outbreak

• Propagated outbreak

• Point source outbreak

• Intermittent common source outbreak

Answer explanation

A point source outbreak occurs when multiple cases arise from a single exposure event, leading to a rapid increase in cases at nearly the same time. This distinguishes it from other outbreak types.