1.Definitions

=Unit 1: Definitions =
 * What is an epidemic?
 * Using Frayer mechanism define epidemic


 * Journal entries: **
 * Saturday September 15 - Spent some time working on my definition of an epidemic (see below), started a new noodle tools project, and added to the resource page.


 * Tuesday Septermebr 18 - Continued to work on my definition of an epidemic. I consulted my summer course packet for additional information. I also posted on the discussion board about the possibility of expanding the first unit.


 * Wednesday September 19 - I just worked for about 35-40 minutes, organizing my thoughts, and polishing my definition of an epidemic (which I feel is complete as of now, but definitely subject to change throughout the course). I posted a few questions on the discussion board. Tomorrow, I plan to spend the long block working on my definitions of virus, bacteria, and protozoan.


 * Friday September 21 - I spent about an hour and half (or so) writing my first assessment (definition of an epidemic).


 * Thursday October 4th - I spent fourth period researching new sources that could help me define/re-define "epidemic." I spent some time looking at the World Health Organization, The Center for Disease Control, The Society for Epidemiological Research, The Epidemiology Department at John’s Hopkins, and JSTOR primary sources.


 * Thursday October 4th - Ms. Willing and I spoke and I told her I was concerned the information I was coming across was too specific (articles about particular outbreaks) and not very helpful when crafting a definition. She suggested a look through the library database and I found too potentially helpful books.


 * Monday October 8th - I spent some time reading "2,500-year Evolution of the Term Epidemic" and "The Elusive definition of Pandemic Influenza." Also, in The Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, I found a great glossary definition of Epidemic and Endemic (this seems to be a more concrete source to help ground my argument).


 * Thursday October 12th -First period I compiled all my notes and started to pull together my essay which I will finsih this weekend. Attatched are my notes to date. We met 6th period to discuss additional sources.


 * Sunday October 14th - spent a few hours re-writing my definition of an epidemic and updating my bibliography. I attached my paper outline to show my thought process/organizational choices.


 * Monday October 15 - spent another hour or so finalizing my paper.

__**Epidemic **__
 * Content: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Must haves/examples: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">A disease that affects a disproportionally large number of individuals within a particular, localized population ( //Merriam Webster)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Temporarily very prevalent (has to peak) ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Involves the transfer on an effective dose of the agent from an infected individual to a susceptible individual ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ID50 : the number of organisms needed to establish infection in 50% of recipients (the effective does for 50% of susceptible individuals) ( O'Hara)
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Once the epidemic has declined, the host population has few remaining susceptible individuals, therefore re-introduction of the same disease-causing agent does not result in another epidemic ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">As time passes and the population evolves, immunity decreases and susceptibility increases (immunity within each individual lessens, immune individuals die off, new susceptible individuals are born) ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">May have: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">The term "epidemic" is often reserved for diseases among humans ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">An epidemic may be infectious, but not necessarily communicable (communicability = the ability to be passed from person to person) ( O'Hara)
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">An epidemic may be contagious, meaning it is communicable and can be passed easily from person to person ( O'Hara)
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman',times,serif; font-size: 16px;">During the 20th century, the definition of epidemic was expanded to include the outbreak of any chronic condition, not just infectious diseases - autoimmune disease, heart diseases, obesity, etc. ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica)//

>
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Non-examples: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Endemic: disease persists at a steady rate throughout a localized population (does not peek)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> ( //MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Pandemic: disease that occurs across a wide geographic area, affects a tremendous portion of the population (AIDs is a world-wide disease, and is therefore classified as a pandemic)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> ( //Merriam Webster)//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Epizootic = outbreak of disease in an animal (non-human) population<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> ( //Encyclopaedia Britannica//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">)

Documents:

Additional notes:



Paper outline: