Glossary Section: Prevention and Treatment

Treatment used against viral infection to reduce symptoms, duration, and transmission of the disease.

Measures taken to reduce the likelihood of getting infected after exposure, or methods employed to lessen the severity of the disease after getting infected.

An infected individual is admitted to the hospital for additional medical care.

Measures taken to reduce and prevent the spread of disease.

Interventions initiated to lessen or prevent adverse outcomes.

Measures which do not involve medication to reduce the spread of communicable diseases (e.g., physical distancing).

Pharmacological intervention taken following exposure to a pathogen to reduce the severity of disease.

Time period before a diagnostic test can detect the presence of a disease. An individual may still be infectious during this period of time.

Pharmacological intervention to reduce susceptibility to a pathogen (i.e., before exposure).

Intervention to reduce the risk of exposure or the susceptibility (likelihood of getting infected with a pathogen after exposure) of an individual to a pathogen.

Measures taken for the prevention of infection and disease.

A measure of the immune response (antibody titre) of an individual against a pathogen, based on a 50% reduction in disease upon exposure to infection. When an individual is seroprotected, there is at least moderate (50%) chance that the individual is clinically protected against the disease.