ANTC68H3 Lecture Notes - Ethnomedicine, Smog, Breast Cancer
Document Summary
An epidemic is a sudden increase in new cases of a disease. Endemic diseases are constantly present in low levels in a population. Who defines health as: not merely the absence of disease and infirmity but complete physical, mental and social wellbeing (who 1978) Incidence is the number of new cases of a particular disease in a specific population within a given time period. Prevalence is the number of cases of a disease within a specific population at any given time. A vector is any living agent that carries and transmits an infectious organism from one host to another. Usually expressed as rate: per 100, per 100,000 etc. Because there are so many new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Because the rapidity of air travel means no location is isolated. Because epidemics are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Because we can learn things from the past and apply them to new diseases.
