Chapter 37 Keywords

Question 1

A small change in the antigenic character of an organism that allows it to avoid attack by the immune system

Answer 1

Antigenic drift

Question 2

An increase in the occurrence of a disease within a large and geographically widespread population (often refers
to a worldwide epidemic).

Answer 2

pandemic

Question 3

A disease that suddenly increases in occurrence above the normal level in a given population

Answer 3

epidemic

Question 4

An epidemic that is characterized by a relatively slow and prolonged rise and then a gradual decline in the
number of individuals infected

Answer 4

propagated epidemic

Question 5

Measures the number of individuals who become ill as a result of a particular disease within a susceptible
population during a specific time period

Answer 5

morbidity rate

Question 6

A disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans.

Answer 6

zoonoses

Question 7

The study of the factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease, injury, and
other health-related events and their causes in defined human populations

Answer 7

epidemiology

Question 8

The ratio of the number of deaths from a given disease to the total number of cases of the disease

Answer 8

mortality rate

Question 9

A disease that occurs occasionally and at random intervals in a population.

Answer 9

sporadic disease

Question 10

A disease associated with a pathogen that can be transmitted from one host to another.

Answer 10

communicable disease

Question 11

A major change in the antigenic character of an organism that makes it unrecognized by host immune
mechanisms

Answer 11

antigenic shift

Question 12

Refers to the total number of individuals infected at any one time in a given population regardless of when the
disease began

Answer 12

prevalence rate

Question 13

A disease that is commonly or constantly present in a population, usually at a relatively steady low frequency.

Answer 13

endemic disease