MIMG 101: Final Exam Questions and
All Correct Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Epidemiology - Answer -the study of the occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health
and disease in population (public health, analyzing public health, not treatment of disease)
◦ A major job is to carry out disease surveillance (observations, reporting of disease)
Epidemiologists - Answer -carry out disease surveillance (observation, recognition, and
reporting of diseases as they occur), use data to formulate effective public health measures for
disease control, prevent outbreaks/epidemics, control them if they occur
History of epidemiology - Answer -Hippocrates was first to attempt to explain disease
occurrence from rational viewpoint than supernatural viewpoint (no Gods, influenced by natural
situation) - diseases could be influenced by environmental and host factors
Miasma theory - Answer -diseases were caused by noxious vapors called miasma
◦ This "bad air" comes from rotting organic matter or other sources of bad odor
◦ Clean cities, keep the air fresh to prevent disease
Dr. Jon Snow, MD - Answer -British physician, founder of modern epidemiology
◦ Investigated the causes of the Broad Street Cholera Outbreak of 1854 in London (diarrhea)
◦ Did not believe in the miasma theory; germ theory was not developed yet (he thought: could
it be water? Sanitation was not a thing, where is it from?)
Cholera Outbreak - Answer -Jon Snow began to suspect contaminated water was at fault for
the cholera outbreak (created a map where people were dying)
◦ He investigated where individuals were getting sick and found a cluster around a water pump
on Broad Street.
◦ He never identified the causative agent, but he was able to convince the city to disable the
pump (because everyone is dying around it, and outbreak was contained)
-how is it spreading, but not cause of disease, only how its spreading and why = epidemiology
Prevalence - Answer -the total number of new and existing disease cases in a population in a
given time period
Incidence - Answer -the number of new cases of a disease in a population in a given time
period
,Morbidity - Answer -the incidence of a disease in a population, how is the disease growing
Mortality - Answer -the incidence of death in a population
Endemic disease definition - Answer when the disease is constantly present (the flu, colds)
Epidemic - Answer when the disease simultaneously infects an unusually high number of
individuals in a population (when a disease suddenly emerges, states or country)
Pandemic - Answer when an epidemic is widespread, usually globally
Influenza - Answer ◦ The flu (caused by the influenza virus) is an example of an endemic
disease (always and comes back)
◦ There can be localized outbreaks of influenza (just ucla for example) that classify as epidemics
◦ If the epidemic spreads far enough, it can become a pandemic
◦ 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic
◦ 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic
Disease Transmission: what are the three methods? - Answer 1. Person to Person
◦ Direct contact - sexual activity, handshakes
◦ Indirect contact - fomites (inanimate objects that were contaminated with a viable pathogen:
utensil, or phone)
◦ Airborne droplets - sneezing, coughing
2. Vehicle
◦ Waterborne - contaminated water source
◦ Foodborne - contaminated food (fungal spores)
◦ Airborne - fungal spores
◦ Soilborne - contaminated soil in contact with open wound (skin infection)
3. Vector
◦ Arthropods/insects - fleas, ticks, mosquitoes
Public Health Advances: Germ theory*** - Answer ◦ Led to improvements in sanitation,
increased focus on hygiene, and implementation of vaccines (better sanitation and hygiene,
wash your hands)
◦ The development and use of antiseptics and antibiotics
, ◦ Improved mechanisms to detect and monitor diseases
◦ Mathematical monitoring of disease spread (how fast: control disease outbreaks)
• A major accomplishment was the significant decline in deaths from infectious diseases
• Coincided with a steep drop in childhood mortality
• Public health and epidemiological advances haven't just helped the fight against infectious
diseases... but also heart disease
Framingham Heart Study*** - Answer ◦ Longitudinal study to identify heart disease risk
factors (follow individual over their lives)
◦ Started in 1948 with 5209 adult participants in Framingham, MA.
◦ Participants were 30+, no cardiovascular disease at baseline
◦ Offspring cohorts were established in 1971 (2nd gen.) and 2002 (3rd gen.)
◦ Special cohort established in 1994 to study race and heritage as risk factors (diversity)
Framingham Heart Study: Lead to these cautious facts - Answer ◦ 1960s: Cigarette smoking
increased heart disease risk.
◦ 1970s: High blood pressure increased stroke risk.
◦ 1980s: High HDL cholesterol reduced risk of death.
◦ 1990s: Enlarged left ventricle increased risk of stroke.
◦ 2000s: Prehypertension associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
◦ 2010s: Sleep apnea increased risk of stroke.
◦ 2010s: Discovery of many genes underlying risk factors for cardiovascular disease
◦ As time has gone by, the technology has advanced, as has the tests they are able to conduct
on the participants
Infectious Diseases are still a problem** - Answer -Global travel and use of blood banks,
among other technological advances, have all contributed to outbreaks of diseases
◦ Infectious diseases are a leading cause of death in developing countries
◦ Less infrastructure for sanitation, hygiene, vaccines, etc
-not past this because microbes can mutate
Emerging diseases** - Answer diseases that suddenly become prevalent
Reemerging diseases ** - Answer diseases that were previously under control but suddenly
appear as a new epidemic (polio, measles)
All Correct Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Epidemiology - Answer -the study of the occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health
and disease in population (public health, analyzing public health, not treatment of disease)
◦ A major job is to carry out disease surveillance (observations, reporting of disease)
Epidemiologists - Answer -carry out disease surveillance (observation, recognition, and
reporting of diseases as they occur), use data to formulate effective public health measures for
disease control, prevent outbreaks/epidemics, control them if they occur
History of epidemiology - Answer -Hippocrates was first to attempt to explain disease
occurrence from rational viewpoint than supernatural viewpoint (no Gods, influenced by natural
situation) - diseases could be influenced by environmental and host factors
Miasma theory - Answer -diseases were caused by noxious vapors called miasma
◦ This "bad air" comes from rotting organic matter or other sources of bad odor
◦ Clean cities, keep the air fresh to prevent disease
Dr. Jon Snow, MD - Answer -British physician, founder of modern epidemiology
◦ Investigated the causes of the Broad Street Cholera Outbreak of 1854 in London (diarrhea)
◦ Did not believe in the miasma theory; germ theory was not developed yet (he thought: could
it be water? Sanitation was not a thing, where is it from?)
Cholera Outbreak - Answer -Jon Snow began to suspect contaminated water was at fault for
the cholera outbreak (created a map where people were dying)
◦ He investigated where individuals were getting sick and found a cluster around a water pump
on Broad Street.
◦ He never identified the causative agent, but he was able to convince the city to disable the
pump (because everyone is dying around it, and outbreak was contained)
-how is it spreading, but not cause of disease, only how its spreading and why = epidemiology
Prevalence - Answer -the total number of new and existing disease cases in a population in a
given time period
Incidence - Answer -the number of new cases of a disease in a population in a given time
period
,Morbidity - Answer -the incidence of a disease in a population, how is the disease growing
Mortality - Answer -the incidence of death in a population
Endemic disease definition - Answer when the disease is constantly present (the flu, colds)
Epidemic - Answer when the disease simultaneously infects an unusually high number of
individuals in a population (when a disease suddenly emerges, states or country)
Pandemic - Answer when an epidemic is widespread, usually globally
Influenza - Answer ◦ The flu (caused by the influenza virus) is an example of an endemic
disease (always and comes back)
◦ There can be localized outbreaks of influenza (just ucla for example) that classify as epidemics
◦ If the epidemic spreads far enough, it can become a pandemic
◦ 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic
◦ 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic
Disease Transmission: what are the three methods? - Answer 1. Person to Person
◦ Direct contact - sexual activity, handshakes
◦ Indirect contact - fomites (inanimate objects that were contaminated with a viable pathogen:
utensil, or phone)
◦ Airborne droplets - sneezing, coughing
2. Vehicle
◦ Waterborne - contaminated water source
◦ Foodborne - contaminated food (fungal spores)
◦ Airborne - fungal spores
◦ Soilborne - contaminated soil in contact with open wound (skin infection)
3. Vector
◦ Arthropods/insects - fleas, ticks, mosquitoes
Public Health Advances: Germ theory*** - Answer ◦ Led to improvements in sanitation,
increased focus on hygiene, and implementation of vaccines (better sanitation and hygiene,
wash your hands)
◦ The development and use of antiseptics and antibiotics
, ◦ Improved mechanisms to detect and monitor diseases
◦ Mathematical monitoring of disease spread (how fast: control disease outbreaks)
• A major accomplishment was the significant decline in deaths from infectious diseases
• Coincided with a steep drop in childhood mortality
• Public health and epidemiological advances haven't just helped the fight against infectious
diseases... but also heart disease
Framingham Heart Study*** - Answer ◦ Longitudinal study to identify heart disease risk
factors (follow individual over their lives)
◦ Started in 1948 with 5209 adult participants in Framingham, MA.
◦ Participants were 30+, no cardiovascular disease at baseline
◦ Offspring cohorts were established in 1971 (2nd gen.) and 2002 (3rd gen.)
◦ Special cohort established in 1994 to study race and heritage as risk factors (diversity)
Framingham Heart Study: Lead to these cautious facts - Answer ◦ 1960s: Cigarette smoking
increased heart disease risk.
◦ 1970s: High blood pressure increased stroke risk.
◦ 1980s: High HDL cholesterol reduced risk of death.
◦ 1990s: Enlarged left ventricle increased risk of stroke.
◦ 2000s: Prehypertension associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
◦ 2010s: Sleep apnea increased risk of stroke.
◦ 2010s: Discovery of many genes underlying risk factors for cardiovascular disease
◦ As time has gone by, the technology has advanced, as has the tests they are able to conduct
on the participants
Infectious Diseases are still a problem** - Answer -Global travel and use of blood banks,
among other technological advances, have all contributed to outbreaks of diseases
◦ Infectious diseases are a leading cause of death in developing countries
◦ Less infrastructure for sanitation, hygiene, vaccines, etc
-not past this because microbes can mutate
Emerging diseases** - Answer diseases that suddenly become prevalent
Reemerging diseases ** - Answer diseases that were previously under control but suddenly
appear as a new epidemic (polio, measles)
