What Every Epidemiologist Should Know
Epidemiologists study disease distribution and the risk of diseases on human populations. With the help of epidemiologists, public health policy and clinical research centers have a better understanding on how to develop medicine and prevention measures to ensure public health. Epidemiologists study a wide range of disease including cancer, AIDS, tuberculoses, cardiovascular disease and infectious disease. When illnesses become a trend or there is a significant change in public health, the epidemiologist is needed.
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Considerations
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An epidemiologist must know how to work with a broad range of organizations and governmental agencies. Epidemiologists play an important role in local public safety and health agencies. They must also know how to work with international organizations. Epidemiologists help shape public and international health policies based on their research of various illnesses and diseases.
Environmental Threats
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Most epidemiologists must be savvy to environmental threats, because environment and physical health are linked. For example, according to the International Journal of Epidemiology, epidemiologists are currently working to understand the link between obesity and climate change. Epidemiologists collaborate with organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency to create solutions that positively affect the environment.
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Significance
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The epidemiologists also have the job of determining when a group of people is at risk for certain diseases. They want to understand why certain diseases affect certain communities, and look to solve the mysteries behind an illness through research. When it comes to diseases in populations, epidemiologists attempt to understand how, when and why the disease has occurred. Over the years, epidemiologists have sought to understand the possible causes of diseases like polio, smallpox and typhoid.
Factors
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There are two factors involved in disease that epidemiologists must know how to determine: risk factors and protective factors. Risk factors involve determining what causes the disease, and protective factors involve protecting people or animals from contracting the disease.
Epidemics
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Epidemics are a specialty of epidemiologists and most are experts on the subject. Epidemiologists must be able to predict how an epidemic will effect a population. For example, during the H1N1 epidemic, it was the expertise of epidemiologists who predicted when the H1N1 influenza virus would peak. Epidemiologists must have a clear idea of how pandemic virus strains will affect populations so that the appropriate plans can be made by communities to protect people.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mike Blyth
