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Ch. 24 The Immune System
Taylor - Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections 10th Edition
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 24, Problem 14

Compare the outcomes of two different cases of infectious diseases in a community.
Case 1: A man with an infectious disease enters a community where the disease has not previously occurred.
Case 2: A man with an infectious disease enters a community where almost everyone has been vaccinated against the disease.

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1
Understand the concept of herd immunity: Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, either through vaccination or previous infections, reducing the likelihood of disease spread.
Analyze Case 1: In a community where the disease has not previously occurred, the population is likely to have no immunity. This means the disease can spread rapidly, as there are no barriers (like immunity) to transmission. The outcome is likely to be a widespread outbreak.
Analyze Case 2: In a community where almost everyone has been vaccinated, the majority of individuals are immune to the disease. This creates a protective effect, as the disease has fewer susceptible hosts to infect. The outcome is likely to be limited or no spread of the disease.
Compare the two cases: In Case 1, the lack of immunity leads to a high risk of an outbreak, while in Case 2, the high vaccination rate significantly reduces or prevents the spread of the disease. This highlights the importance of vaccination in controlling infectious diseases.
Conclude the comparison: Vaccination not only protects individuals but also contributes to community-wide protection by reducing the overall transmission of the disease, as demonstrated in Case 2. This is a key principle in public health strategies to prevent epidemics.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Herd Immunity

Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease, either through vaccination or previous infections. This immunity helps protect those who are not immune by reducing the overall spread of the disease. In Case 2, the high vaccination rate in the community would likely prevent the disease from spreading widely, demonstrating the effectiveness of herd immunity.
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Infectious Disease Transmission

Infectious disease transmission refers to the process by which pathogens are spread from one host to another. Factors influencing transmission include the mode of spread (e.g., airborne, direct contact), the infectious dose, and the susceptibility of the population. In Case 1, the introduction of an infected individual into a naive population can lead to rapid spread, as there are no pre-existing immunity barriers.
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Vaccination and Immunization

Vaccination is a preventive measure that introduces a harmless component of a pathogen to stimulate the immune system, leading to immunity without causing the disease. Immunization can significantly reduce the incidence of infectious diseases in a community. In Case 2, the presence of vaccinations would likely result in fewer cases and milder outcomes, as the majority of the population would have developed immunity.
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Related Practice
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Propose an explanation for why we need a flu shot year after year, instead of only once early in life.
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