Épidémiologie des maladies infectieuses

The “science of outbreaks” is only a small part of modern epidemiology. An infectious disease is the consequence of interactions between the pathogen, the host, and environmental factors. An epidemiologist has several tasks. Infectious diseases control and prevention rely on cases screening and treatment, individual and collective prophylaxis, vector elimination, and improvement of life conditions and sanitary education. A surveillance system providing continuous reliable data within short time delay is essential for epidemiological surveillance. It has to enable giving alert in case of outbreaks with short delay, and to provide sufficient details on the cases and locations. Outbreak management comes next. Ad hoc field studies are expected to provide details on the circumstances and determinants of the disease. These studies should come out with strategies reducing the outbreak related morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologists are also in charge of assessing the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic strategies.