A measure of morbidity often used in infectious disease investigations is the attack rate. Attack rates are often specific to an exposure. An example of an attack rate is:
A) The number of cases of cancer recorded at a medical center
B) The number of people who died of cholera in India in a given year
C) The number of beef cattle inoculated against mad-cow disease on a farm
D) The proportion of people becoming ill after eating at a fast-food restaurant

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The attack rate is a proportion of the population that becomes ill after exposure to a specific agent. In option D, the proportion of people becoming ill after eating at a fast-food restaurant is an example of an attack rate since it is specific to a particular exposure. The other options do not fit the definition of attack rate as they are not specific to any particular exposure.

A Measure of Morbidity Often Used in Infectious Disease Investigations