Question

An epidemic has spread through the student body that is currently living on campus. Many cases of students (sick) do NOT seem to be living off campus and eat regularly at the cafeteria. symptoms are muscle weakness, loss of facial expression and trouble eating and drinking. It seems as if the cafeteria is the source (food-borne) of the illness, but the campus administrators are not sure what to do next! however, since you have just about completed BIOL 375, you understand the immune system and epidemiology quite well.

1) The campus health officials cannot figure out the source of the problem. The students are blaming the cafeteria, but the cafeteria workers have all been trained in food handling procedures and have not had a case of E. coli or Salmonella outbreak in years. Explain what epidemiology is and how it can be used in this epidemic case.

Answer 1

ANSWER:

The word epidemology has its roots in the study of what befalls a population.epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations,and the application of this study to control of health problems

Epidemology has many purposes,including to:

1. Study the course, or natural history of disease

2. Determine the frequency of disease in populations

3. Identify the patterns of disease occurrence

4. Identify risk factors for and potential causes of diseases, and

5. Evaluate the effectivness of preventativeand treatment measures.

        The ultimate goal of epidemology is to apply this knowledge to the control of the disease through preventional and treatment ,resulting in the preservation of public health.