Virology and Microbiology

Epidemiology

Epidemiology
Viral epidemiology is the branch of medical science that deals with the frequency and spread of viruses in populations over time. It is used to break the chain of infection in populations during outbreaks of viral diseases. Host, virus and environmental factors are monitored to determine the dynamics of viral infections, the ultimate goal of which is to devise intervention strategies. Transmission of viruses can be vertical, means from mother to child (or) horizontal, means from person to person. The rate of transmission of viral infections depends on factors that include population density, the number of susceptible individuals, the quality of healthcare and the weather.