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An epidemic curve with a steep upslope and a more gradual downslope is characteristic of which pattern of spread?
AA propagated person to person epidemic
BA point source epidemic of brief exposure
CAn intermittent common source epidemic
DA continuous common source epidemic
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. A point source epidemic of brief exposure
1. The shape of an epidemic curve reflects the pattern of spread, the length of exposure and the incubation period.
2. When everyone is exposed to one source over a brief period, cases pile up quickly and then tail away.
3. That produces the steep upslope and gradual downslope of a point source epidemic, with all cases inside one incubation period.
4. A continuous common source flattens the peak into a plateau, and an intermittent one gives a jagged curve.
5. A propagated epidemic spreads over more than one incubation period, so its cases cannot fit a single steep peak.
_Source: CDC Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice, 3rd Edition, section Interpreting an Epidemic Curve_
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