Epidemiology has a variety of sub-disciplines. Each of these sub-disciplines has different measures they use to determine the severity of the communicability of various diseases. The two classic measures are incidence and prevalence. However, there are other measures of disease measurement, which can include:

Morbidity

Incidence

Cumulative Incidence

Incidence Density

Incidence Rate

Prevalence

Period Prevalence

Point Prevalence

Mortality

Case Fatality Rate 

Proportionate Mortality Rate

Age Specific Death Rate

Age-Adjusted Rate

Direct Age Adjustment

Indirect Age Adjustment

Years of Potential Life Lost

Outbreak Specific Calculations

R0 (R naught or Reproductive Ratio)

Attack Rate (usually used for foodborne pathogens)

Secondary Attack Rate (used for any communicable disease to describe the percentage of secondary cases)

Discussion:

In this discussion, you will select a disease with which you are interested in. You will need to search the Morbidity and Mortality Week Report, Emerging Infectious Disease Journal, and Preventing Chronic Diseases Journal. Your response should range from 300 – 500 words and discuss the disease you selected and at least two measures from the Morbidity and Mortality section of this prompt. In your discussion, you should explain why that measure is used and what some of the limitations of that measure is regarding your disease.