A health worker notes that a cluster of cholera cases have occurred downstream of a river, all within one week, with a common peak in the epidemic curve followed by rapid decline. What type of epidemic pattern does this most likely represent?

• A Propagated (person-to-person) epidemic
• B Continuous common source epidemic
• C Mixed epidemic
• D Point source epidemic with common vehicle ✓

Explanation

A sharp rise followed by a rapid fall in cases within one incubation period, with cases clustered in time and a single peak, is characteristic of a point source (common source) epidemic. In this scenario, contaminated river water served as the single common vehicle. Propagated epidemics show a series of successive peaks, each separated by one incubation period, reflecting person-to-person transmission.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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