modification of a virus (naturally or artificially) that makes it more virulent or deadly
gain-of-function
transmission of a disease directly within a community and not by importation from a foreign source
community spread
practice of encouraging people to minimize contact and closeness, whether by banning large or even small groups/meetings (football matches, nightclubs), or by maintaining a minimum distance between people
social distancing
describing a disease that can pass from person to person, usually by direct contact; describing a person with such a disease
contagious
a person or animal that transmits a disease to others
carrier
a contagious disease caused by SARS‑CoV‑2
COVID-19
the word _____ means “new”
novel
change the steep upward curve on a graph of new disease cases to a flatter, shallower upward curve over a longer time period through measures such as social distancing
flatten the curve
separation of infected people from healthy people for serious contagious diseases like COVID-19
isolation
a sudden occurrence of a disease (or other unpleasant thing)
outbreak
describing a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans
zoonotic
affect a human or animal with a disease-causing organism
infect
a living thing, too small to be seen without a microscope, that causes infectious disease in animals and humans
virus
isolate oneself; put oneself in quarantine, away from other people
self-isolate
occurrence of a particular disease in a large number of people in a particular area
epidemic
special clothing, headgear, goggles, masks and other garments that shield people from injury or infection
personal protective equipment (PPE)
official restriction of movement within or access to an area in the interests of public health
lockdown
describing something like, caused by, or relating to a virus or viruses
viral
a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2)
showing no symptoms of a particular disease
asymptomatic
describing the spread of a disease from one person to another
person-to-person
process of infecting; state of being infected; infectious disease
infection
testing of people for the presence of a disease
screening
describing a disease that can be transmitted through the environment; describing a human or animal capable of spreading an infection
infectious
illness; sickness; a disorder of the body
disease
a physical or mental feature that indicates illness/disease
symptoms
be infected with a disease and able to transmit it to others
carry
any point where animals (domestic and wild) and humans meet
animal-human interface
a substance used to protect humans and animals from a disease
vaccine
an indirect protection from a disease resulting from a large percentage of the population gaining immunity
herd immunity
person infected with a virus etc who transmits or spreads it to an unusually large number of people
superspreader
transfer of a disease from animal to human or from human to human
transmission
test that detects viral particles in blood or other body fluids. (polymerase chain reaction)
PCR test
the spray produced when people cough or sneeze
droplets
occurrence of a particular disease throughout a whole country or the world
pandemic
the person identified as the first to become infected with a disease in an outbreak
patient zero
attempt to cure or alleviate an illness or injury through medical care
treat
the time from a person’s first exposure to a disease to the time when symptoms develop
incubation period
an epidemic, or even pandemic, of madness driven by individual irrational fear. It occurs when a large portion of society loses touch with reality and descends into delusion.
mass psychosis
a person opposed to vaccines and vaccination on principle
anti-vaxer, anti-vaxxer
identification of an illness by examination of the symptoms
diagnosis
any one of a large family of viruses that can cause disease in the breathing and eating systems of humans and animals
coronavirus
affected with a disease-causing organism
infected
identification and monitoring of people who may have had contact with an infectious person
contact tracing
identify an illness by examining the symptoms
diagnose
showing symptoms of a particular disease
symptomatic
keep an infected person away from healthy people
isolate
isolation and monitoring of people who seem healthy but may have been exposed to an infectious disease to see if they develop symptoms
quarantine
a piece of fibre or cloth that fits over the nose and mouth to protect other people from the wearer's germs and/or the wearer from germs in the air
mask
often passive: cause a disease to pass from animal to human or from human to human
transmit
medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury
treatment
a micro-organism or germ such as a bacterium or virus that can cause disease
pathogen
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