Dynamics of Disease Transmission,

Levels of Prevention and Control

Maria Catherine B. Otero, MSPH, CBO

Coordinator, DMSFI Research and Publication Office
Nov 2018
 Exposure to Infectious Agents

No infection Clinical Sub-clinical Carrier

Death Carrier Immunity No immunity

Outcome

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 Transmission
Cases
 Index – the first case identified
 Primary – the case that brings the infection into a population
 Secondary – infected by a primary case
 Tertiary – infected by a secondary case

T
S
Susceptible P
S
Immune
S
T
Sub-clinical

Clinical

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 Epidemiologic Triad-Related Concepts

Infectivity (ability to infect)

(number infected / number susceptible) x 100
Pathogenicity (ability to cause disease)
(number with clinical disease / number infected) x 100
Virulence (ability to cause death)
(number of deaths / number with disease) x 100

All are dependent on host factors

Predisposition to Infections
(Host Factors)

Gender
Genetics
Climate and Weather
Nutrition, Stress, Sleep
Smoking
Stomach Acidity
Hygiene
 Communicable Diseases
• Clinical • Epidemiologic
Classification Classification
Diarrhoeal disease Waterborne
Febrile illness Foodborne
Respiratory disease Airborne
Vector-borne
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/evaluation/watsan2005/annex_files/WEDC/diseases/c
pd02.pdf
Prioritizing Communicable Diseases
 Communicable Diseases
Prevention Control or Mitigation
- measures applied to - Measures that are
prevent the occurrence applied to prevent
of a disease transmission after the
disease has occurred
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808683/
 Measures targeting the Reservoir of
Infection
• Diagnosis and treatment
• Screening
• Isolation
• Reporting
• Animal reservoirs
 Measures targeting the mode of
transmission
• Water
• Food
• Other vehicles (e.g. fomites)
• Vectors
Disinfection
Sterilization
Disinfestation
 Measures targeting the susceptible
host
• Vaccination
• Chemoprophylaxis
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
• Limiting exposure to reservoirs of infection