Poor hand hygiene of a mess worker in a university college mess led to Hepatitis A cases in the hostel inmates. What type of epidemic will this exposure present with?
1. Propagated
2. Common source-continuous exposure
3. Common source-point exposure
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Identifying Hepatitis A Epidemic Type
The scenario describes Hepatitis A cases arising in hostel inmates due to the poor hand hygiene of a mess worker. This indicates a common source of infection that persists over time.
Epidemic Classification
Epidemics are classified based on the source and duration of exposure:
- Common Source - Point Exposure: Individuals are exposed to a single source intermittently over a short period. The outbreak appears quickly and resolves relatively fast. Example: Eating contaminated food from a single event.
- Common Source - Continuous Exposure: Individuals are exposed to a source that persists over a longer duration. The outbreak builds up more gradually and may last longer. Example: A contaminated water supply that remains untreated for weeks.
- Propagated Epidemic: Infection spreads from person to person. This typically involves a longer incubation period and results in successive waves of cases. Example: Influenza or Tuberculosis spreading through a community.
Scenario Analysis
In this case:
- The mess worker represents the common source due to poor hand hygiene.
- The contamination likely occurs repeatedly as the worker prepares or serves food over a period, leading to continuous exposure for the inmates.
- It is not a single exposure event (point source) or primarily person-to-person spread (propagated).
Therefore, the exposure presents as a Common source-continuous exposure epidemic.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the exposure type is common source-continuous exposure. This corresponds to option 2 only.
Important Questions from General Epidemiology
- Which one of the following is NOT a function of Epidemiology?
- Predictive accuracy of a screening test depends on the following EXCEPT:
Which one of the following statements is NOT true for taking a decision on screening for disease?
- Standardized Mortality ratio is best explained by which one of the following statements?
In a family of six (2 parents and 4 children), the youngest child catches measles infection. The parents are immune to the infection. On $3^{rd}$ and $5^{th}$ day of the infection of the first child, the two other children also suffer from measles. The secondary attack rate (SAR) of measles is:
