Principles Of Public Health Exam 1

Which disease category has humans as the only known reservoir?

Epidemic Pandemic Anthroponoses Zoonoses

Correct Answer:

Anthroponoses

Explanation:

Anthroponoses are diseases for which humans are the only known reservoir. A reservoir is the population in which a pathogen normally lives and multiplies; when only humans harbor it, the pathogen is maintained solely through human-to-human transmission, with no non-human hosts required. This makes control rely heavily on interrupting person-to-person spread, through vaccination, case finding, and isolation. Classic examples include measles, rubella, diphtheria, and poliomyelitis; smallpox is another historic case that has been eradicated. In contrast, epidemic or pandemic describes the size of an outbreak, not the reservoir. Zoonoses involve animal reservoirs, meaning non-human hosts are part of the pathogen’s life cycle.

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