The National Academies
What You Need To Know About Infectious Disease
What do you know about infectious disease?
Public health officials can identify the outbreak of disease by monitoring certain patterns of behavior through syndromic surveillance. Which of the following is one of the signs used to identify a disease outbreak using this system?
- Level of school and work absenteeism
- Sales of over-the-counter medication
- Number of illness-related 911 calls
- All of the above
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In syndromic surveillance, all of the above are used in addition to other patterns that suggest an outbreak. Despite the emergence of this innovative surveillance method, most surveillance still depends on tracking reported infections.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In syndromic surveillance, all of the above are used in addition to other patterns that suggest an outbreak. Despite the emergence of this innovative surveillance method, most surveillance still depends on tracking reported infections.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In syndromic surveillance, all of the above are used in addition to other patterns that suggest an outbreak. Despite the emergence of this innovative surveillance method, most surveillance still depends on tracking reported infections.
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Correct!
In syndromic surveillance, all of the above are used in addition to other patterns that suggest an outbreak. Despite the emergence of this innovative surveillance method, most surveillance still depends on tracking reported infections.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes about what percentage of cervical cancer cases?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes more than 90% of cervical cancer cases.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes more than 90% of cervical cancer cases.
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Correct!
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes more than 90% of cervical cancer cases.
Which of the following is NOT a type of infectious agent?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
White blood cells are not a type of infectious agent. Part of the immune system, white blood cells fight infection rather than cause it.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
White blood cells are not a type of infectious agent. Part of the immune system, white blood cells fight infection rather than cause it.
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Correct!
White blood cells are not a type of infectious agent. Part of the immune system, white blood cells fight infection rather than cause it.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
White blood cells are not a type of infectious agent. Part of the immune system, white blood cells fight infection rather than cause it.
True or False: Washing your hands with soaps that have residue-producing antibacterial products, such as those containing the chemical triclosan, have been proven to confer health benefits.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Washing with regular soap is considered the most important way to prevent disease transmission. Routine consumer use of residue-producing antibacterial products has no added benefit and may actually contribute to antibiotic resistance.
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Correct!
Washing with regular soap is considered the most important way to prevent disease transmission. Routine consumer use of residue-producing antibacterial products has no added benefit and may actually contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Of the more than 1,700 known viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that infect people, how many have come from animals?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
More than half of the known pathogens that infect people have come from animals. Of the 37 new infectious diseases identified in just the past 30 years, two-thirds sprang from animals.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
More than half of the known pathogens that infect people have come from animals. Of the 37 new infectious diseases identified in just the past 30 years, two-thirds sprang from animals.
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Correct!
More than half of the known pathogens that infect people have come from animals. Of the 37 new infectious diseases identified in just the past 30 years, two-thirds sprang from animals.
How long did it take the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic to spread to 30 countries?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The 2009 “swine flu” pandemic starkly illustrated the impact of globalization and air travel on the movement of infectious diseases—with the infection spreading to 30 countries within six weeks and to more than 190 countries and territories within months.
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Correct!
The 2009 “swine flu” pandemic starkly illustrated the impact of globalization and air travel on the movement of infectious diseases—with the infection spreading to 30 countries within six weeks and to more than 190 countries and territories within months.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The 2009 “swine flu” pandemic starkly illustrated the impact of globalization and air travel on the movement of infectious diseases—with the infection spreading to 30 countries within six weeks and to more than 190 countries and territories within months.
Which of the following is an effective way to protect yourself against infectious disease?
- Keep immunizations up to date
- Wash your hands often
- Prepare and handle food carefully
- All of the above
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
All of the above can help prevent infectious disease. Other behaviors, such as exercising caution around wild and unfamiliar domestic animals, avoiding insect bites, practicing safe sex, and being vigilant about disease threats while traveling abroad, can also reduce the risk of infection.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
All of the above can help prevent infectious disease. Other behaviors, such as exercising caution around wild and unfamiliar domestic animals, avoiding insect bites, practicing safe sex, and being vigilant about disease threats while traveling abroad, can also reduce the risk of infection.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
All of the above can help prevent infectious disease. Other behaviors, such as exercising caution around wild and unfamiliar domestic animals, avoiding insect bites, practicing safe sex, and being vigilant about disease threats while traveling abroad, can also reduce the risk of infection.
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Correct!
All of the above can help prevent infectious disease. Other behaviors, such as exercising caution around wild and unfamiliar domestic animals, avoiding insect bites, practicing safe sex, and being vigilant about disease threats while traveling abroad, can also reduce the risk of infection.
Which of the following is not a viral disease:
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Trichinosis is not a viral disease. It is caused by a helminth (parasitic worm) found in undercooked meat, not by a virus.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Trichinosis is not a viral disease. It is caused by a helminth (parasitic worm) found in undercooked meat, not by a virus.
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Correct!
Trichinosis is not a viral disease. It is caused by a helminth (parasitic worm) found in undercooked meat, not by a virus.
Which of the following diseases kills more children worldwide than any other infectious disease?
- Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia)
- HIV/AIDS
- Diarrheal diseases
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
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Correct!
Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Together these diseases are the five leading causes of infectious disease worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all deaths.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Together these diseases are the five leading causes of infectious disease worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all deaths.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Together these diseases are the five leading causes of infectious disease worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all deaths.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Together these diseases are the five leading causes of infectious disease worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all deaths.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Together these diseases are the five leading causes of infectious disease worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all deaths.
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Disease Watchlist
Infectious Disease Defined
- Disease
Any abnormal condition in which cells in the body are damaged and symptoms of illness begin to appear.


