What is Epidemiology?<br>
What is an epidemiologist?<br>
How do you become an epidemiologist?<br>
What is the Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program?<br>
Who is an Epidemiologist?<br>
What does an Epidemiologist do?<br>
What is a notifiable condition?<br>
Where do I learn more about a specific notifiable condition?<br>
How do I report a notifiable condition?<br>
Why should I report a notifiable condition?<br>
What is a Public Health Emergency?<br>
How do I prepare for a Public Health Emergency?<br><br>


How should you do screening of various medical conditions?<br>
What questions should you ask in screening of various medical conditions?<br><br>


The Qureshi College of Public Health has a mission to improve and protect public health through research, teaching and practices.
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<br><br>
What is incidence?<br>
What is prevalence?<br>
What is morbidity?<br>
What is mortality?<br><br>

What is Epidemiology?<br>
<br>
Epidemiology, literally translated from Greek, means "the study of people".<br><br>

In fact, we use the term epidemiology to mean the study of diseases in populations.<br><br>

Epidemiology has three main aims:<br>

    * To describe disease patterns in human populations.
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    * To identify the causes of diseases (also known as aetiology).<br><br>

    * To provide data essential for the management, evaluation and planning of services for the prevention, control and treatment of disease Professionals who work in the area of epidemiology are known as epidemiologists.<br><br>

Epidemiology combines the disciplines of medicine, health sciences, social sciences on the one hand and statistics on the other and, to some extent detective work, to make an interesting and varied profession.<br><br>

 

What is an epidemiologist?<br><br>

According to Last et al (2000), an epidemiologist is:
"An investigator who studies the occurrence of disease or other health-related conditions or events in defined populations. The control of disease in populations is often also considered to be a task for the epidemiologist"<br><br>
 

How do you become an epidemiologist?<br><br>

There are many and varied pathways to becoming an epidemiologist. They usually involve a degree in a related field such as medicine, health science, science with majors in mathematics/statistics, psychology, or sociology or arrange of  biomedical sciences, followed by a postgraduate degree in epidemiology, biostatistics or public health. The options for postgraduate study include (1) a graduate diploma or masters degree in epidemiology, biostatistics or public health that involve substantial coursework, including units in epidemiology, and completion of a minor research project with dissertation, and (2) a Masters by research degree or PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics or public health focused on a major research project usually with at least some coursework undertaken prior to or during the period of study. Epidemiologists with responsibility for designing, winning funding for, supervising and analysing epidemiological studies funded by major funding bodies will usually have completed a PhD in preparation for conducting epidemiological research. Epidemiologists working in applied areas such as 'shoe leather' communicable disease control or analysis of routine data to support policy development, etc, are undertaken by those who take  either pathway.<br><br> 

Some undergraduate degree programs now include courses in epidemiology and biostatistics, but to be called an epidemiologist a piece of epidemiological research, usually at the postgraduate level, needs to be undertaken.<br><br>


If you are interested in studying to be an epidemiologist, you can contact one of the many School of Public or Population Health in Australia or New Zealand– put link here. Please note this list is not comprehensive and a search on the internet is recommended.
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What is the Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program?
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The Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness Program is part of the City of Portland, Health and Human Services Department and provides notifiable disease investigation, surveillance and educational services to the Cumberland County on behalf of the State of Maine. Additionally, this program provides public health emergency preparedness and response consultation, coordination, implementation and evaluation for Cumberland County.
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Who is an Epidemiologist?<br><br>

Definition: [n] a medical scientist who studies the transmission and control of epidemic diseases or diseases that are in excess in the population.<br><br>

What does an Epidemiologist do?<br><br>

Epidemiologists work in variety of settings. Some epidemiologists work "in the field" meaning they are at the forefront of combating disease outbreaks all over the world. Typically, field epidemiologists are working to determine the cause of an infectious disease outbreak or epidemic. Epidemiologists also study chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.<br><br>

What is a notifiable condition?<br><br>

In Maine, a notifiable disease is one that health providers and laboratories are required by law to report to the Maine Centers for Disease Control. Notifiable diseases are of public interest and safety because of their contagiousness, severity, or frequency.<br><br>


Where do I learn more about a specific notifiable condition?
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Please visit the disease information page of this website for disease specific information: www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/phdiseaseinfo.asp

More information can also be found in the CDC webpage www.cdc.gov and www.cste.org

How do I report a notifiable condition?

Notifiable conditions should be reported to Maine Center for Disease Control either by a toll free phone or fax (24 hours a day, 7 days a week):<br><br>

Phone Number: 1-800-821-5821<br><br>
Fax Number: 1-800-293-7534<br><br>

Why should I report a notifiable condition?<br><br>

Once public health staff knows about a communicable disease, they can act on this information to adopt the best strategies to prevent the introduction and spread of these diseases in the immediate community and beyond.<br><br>

What is a Public Health Emergency?<br><br>

A public health emergency can be the result of:<br><br>

* Natural disaster (Ice storm, pandemic influenza)<br><br>
Or
* __________ act (biological, chemical, or radiological agent release; or high-yield explosion)<br><br>

How do I prepare for a public health emergency?<br><br>

For more information about how to prepare for a public health emergency and how to create an emergency kit for you and your family please visit out emergency preparedness guide <br><br>

http://www.aea.asn.au/home_whatisepidemiology.htm<br><br>

http://www.ci.portland.me.us/hhs/phepifaq.asp<br><br>

http://www.acepidemiology.org/about/aboutepid/