Global Public Health & Pandemics: 2026
Prep
Epidemiology, Health Systems & Pandemic Preparedness (100 Questions)
1. What is the fundamental difference between an "Epidemic" and a "Pandemic"?
A) An epidemic occurs in a single hospital; a pandemic occurs in a single city.
B) An epidemic is a sudden increase in cases in a specific population/region; a pandemic is an
epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents.
C) Pandemics are only caused by bacteria; epidemics are only caused by viruses.
D) An epidemic is always more lethal than a pandemic.
Correct Answer: B) An epidemic is a sudden increase in cases in a specific
population/region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or
continents.
2. The "Basic Reproduction Number" ($R_0$) represents:
A) The total number of people who have died from a disease.
B) The average number of secondary infections produced by a single infectious individual in a
totally susceptible population.
C) The length of time an infection lasts in a host.
D) The number of years a vaccine takes to develop.
Correct Answer: B) The average number of secondary infections produced by a single
infectious individual in a totally susceptible population.
3. "Herd Immunity" threshold is the percentage of a population that must be immune to:
A) Eradicate the pathogen completely in one day.
B) Stop the spread of an infectious disease by reducing the probability that an infected
individual will come into contact with a susceptible person.
C) Make the disease evolve faster.
D) Increase the number of people who get sick.
Correct Answer: B) Stop the spread of an infectious disease by reducing the probability
that an infected individual will come into contact with a susceptible person.
4. What is the role of "Genomic Surveillance" in modern pandemic preparedness?
A) To track the physical location of every person.
B) To monitor the genetic evolution and mutation rates of pathogens in real-time, allowing for
rapid vaccine/therapeutic updates.
C) To delete viral genomes from the environment.
D) To identify the political origin of a virus.
,Correct Answer: B) To monitor the genetic evolution and mutation rates of pathogens in
real-time, allowing for rapid vaccine/therapeutic updates.
5. "Zoonotic spillover" is the process where:
A) A virus moves from a human back to an animal.
B) A pathogen jumps from an animal reservoir to a human host.
C) A virus is created in a laboratory.
D) A bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics.
Correct Answer: B) A pathogen jumps from an animal reservoir to a human host.
6. What is the "Incubation Period" of a pathogen?
A) The time it takes to develop a vaccine.
B) The time between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of the first symptoms.
C) The time the virus stays in the environment before infecting someone.
D) The duration of treatment in a hospital.
Correct Answer: B) The time between exposure to an infectious agent and the
appearance of the first symptoms.
7. "Social Distancing" and "Lockdowns" are examples of:
A) Primary prevention strategies.
B) Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) aimed at slowing disease transmission by reducing
contact rates.
C) Final stages of disease eradication.
D) Techniques to increase the $R_0$ of a virus.
Correct Answer: B) Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) aimed at slowing disease
transmission by reducing contact rates.
8. What is the primary purpose of a "Vaccine Platform" (e.g., mRNA, viral vector)?
A) To diagnose the disease.
B) To provide a standardized delivery system for antigens to stimulate an immune response
without causing disease.
C) To kill the virus after infection.
D) To store medical records of vaccinated individuals.
Correct Answer: B) To provide a standardized delivery system for antigens to stimulate
an immune response without causing disease.
9. "Contact Tracing" is used to:
A) Identify the age of the virus.
, B) Identify, assess, and manage people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent further
transmission.
C) Treat patients in intensive care.
D) Manufacture vaccines.
Correct Answer: B) Identify, assess, and manage people who have been exposed to a
disease to prevent further transmission.
10. "Health Equity" in pandemic response emphasizes:
A) Ensuring that only wealthy countries get vaccines.
B) Identifying and addressing the social determinants of health to ensure fair access to
healthcare for all populations.
C) Ignoring the needs of marginalized groups.
D) Making sure healthcare is only available to essential workers.
Correct Answer: B) Identifying and addressing the social determinants of health to
ensure fair access to healthcare for all populations.
11. What is a "Case Fatality Rate" (CFR)?
A) The number of people who have been infected.
B) The proportion of people diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease.
C) The number of people who recovered.
D) The total population of a country.
Correct Answer: B) The proportion of people diagnosed with a disease who die from that
disease.
12. "Asymptomatic transmission" means:
A) The virus is only spread by people with severe symptoms.
B) The virus is spread by individuals who are infected but show no clinical symptoms.
C) The virus cannot be spread by humans.
D) The virus only spreads through insects.
Correct Answer: B) The virus is spread by individuals who are infected but show no
clinical symptoms.
13. The "One Health" approach recognizes that:
A) Human health is independent of animal and environmental health.
B) Human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked and must be addressed
together.
C) Only animal health matters in pandemics.
D) Only environmental health matters.
Correct Answer: B) Human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked and
must be addressed together.
14. What is "Vaccine Hesitancy"?
A) A delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services.
Prep
Epidemiology, Health Systems & Pandemic Preparedness (100 Questions)
1. What is the fundamental difference between an "Epidemic" and a "Pandemic"?
A) An epidemic occurs in a single hospital; a pandemic occurs in a single city.
B) An epidemic is a sudden increase in cases in a specific population/region; a pandemic is an
epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents.
C) Pandemics are only caused by bacteria; epidemics are only caused by viruses.
D) An epidemic is always more lethal than a pandemic.
Correct Answer: B) An epidemic is a sudden increase in cases in a specific
population/region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or
continents.
2. The "Basic Reproduction Number" ($R_0$) represents:
A) The total number of people who have died from a disease.
B) The average number of secondary infections produced by a single infectious individual in a
totally susceptible population.
C) The length of time an infection lasts in a host.
D) The number of years a vaccine takes to develop.
Correct Answer: B) The average number of secondary infections produced by a single
infectious individual in a totally susceptible population.
3. "Herd Immunity" threshold is the percentage of a population that must be immune to:
A) Eradicate the pathogen completely in one day.
B) Stop the spread of an infectious disease by reducing the probability that an infected
individual will come into contact with a susceptible person.
C) Make the disease evolve faster.
D) Increase the number of people who get sick.
Correct Answer: B) Stop the spread of an infectious disease by reducing the probability
that an infected individual will come into contact with a susceptible person.
4. What is the role of "Genomic Surveillance" in modern pandemic preparedness?
A) To track the physical location of every person.
B) To monitor the genetic evolution and mutation rates of pathogens in real-time, allowing for
rapid vaccine/therapeutic updates.
C) To delete viral genomes from the environment.
D) To identify the political origin of a virus.
,Correct Answer: B) To monitor the genetic evolution and mutation rates of pathogens in
real-time, allowing for rapid vaccine/therapeutic updates.
5. "Zoonotic spillover" is the process where:
A) A virus moves from a human back to an animal.
B) A pathogen jumps from an animal reservoir to a human host.
C) A virus is created in a laboratory.
D) A bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics.
Correct Answer: B) A pathogen jumps from an animal reservoir to a human host.
6. What is the "Incubation Period" of a pathogen?
A) The time it takes to develop a vaccine.
B) The time between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of the first symptoms.
C) The time the virus stays in the environment before infecting someone.
D) The duration of treatment in a hospital.
Correct Answer: B) The time between exposure to an infectious agent and the
appearance of the first symptoms.
7. "Social Distancing" and "Lockdowns" are examples of:
A) Primary prevention strategies.
B) Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) aimed at slowing disease transmission by reducing
contact rates.
C) Final stages of disease eradication.
D) Techniques to increase the $R_0$ of a virus.
Correct Answer: B) Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) aimed at slowing disease
transmission by reducing contact rates.
8. What is the primary purpose of a "Vaccine Platform" (e.g., mRNA, viral vector)?
A) To diagnose the disease.
B) To provide a standardized delivery system for antigens to stimulate an immune response
without causing disease.
C) To kill the virus after infection.
D) To store medical records of vaccinated individuals.
Correct Answer: B) To provide a standardized delivery system for antigens to stimulate
an immune response without causing disease.
9. "Contact Tracing" is used to:
A) Identify the age of the virus.
, B) Identify, assess, and manage people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent further
transmission.
C) Treat patients in intensive care.
D) Manufacture vaccines.
Correct Answer: B) Identify, assess, and manage people who have been exposed to a
disease to prevent further transmission.
10. "Health Equity" in pandemic response emphasizes:
A) Ensuring that only wealthy countries get vaccines.
B) Identifying and addressing the social determinants of health to ensure fair access to
healthcare for all populations.
C) Ignoring the needs of marginalized groups.
D) Making sure healthcare is only available to essential workers.
Correct Answer: B) Identifying and addressing the social determinants of health to
ensure fair access to healthcare for all populations.
11. What is a "Case Fatality Rate" (CFR)?
A) The number of people who have been infected.
B) The proportion of people diagnosed with a disease who die from that disease.
C) The number of people who recovered.
D) The total population of a country.
Correct Answer: B) The proportion of people diagnosed with a disease who die from that
disease.
12. "Asymptomatic transmission" means:
A) The virus is only spread by people with severe symptoms.
B) The virus is spread by individuals who are infected but show no clinical symptoms.
C) The virus cannot be spread by humans.
D) The virus only spreads through insects.
Correct Answer: B) The virus is spread by individuals who are infected but show no
clinical symptoms.
13. The "One Health" approach recognizes that:
A) Human health is independent of animal and environmental health.
B) Human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked and must be addressed
together.
C) Only animal health matters in pandemics.
D) Only environmental health matters.
Correct Answer: B) Human, animal, and environmental health are intrinsically linked and
must be addressed together.
14. What is "Vaccine Hesitancy"?
A) A delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services.
