What are the Key Methods Used in Viral Epidemiology?
Epidemiologists use several methods to study viruses, including:
- Surveillance: Continuous, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. - Outbreak Investigation: Identifying the source and controlling the spread of infections during an outbreak. - Serological Surveys: Testing blood samples to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against a virus in a population. - Molecular Epidemiology: Using genetic information to trace virus origins and pathways of transmission.
