Critical community size
The critical community size (CCS) is the minimum size of a closed population within which a human-to-human, non-zoonotic pathogen can persist indefinitely.[1]
When the size of the closed population falls below the critical community size level, the low density of infected hosts causes extinction of the pathogen.[2] This epidemiologic phenomenon was first identified during measles outbreaks in the 1950s.[1]
The critical community size depends on:
- Speed of transmission
- How long until a person who has recovered remains immune
- Fatality rate
- Birth and death rate in the general population
See also[]
- Compartmental models in epidemiology – Type of mathematical model used for infectious diseases
- Epidemiology – Aspect of health and disease science
- Force of infection
- Mathematical modelling of infectious disease – Using mathematical models to understand infectious disease transmission
- Transmission risks and rates
References[]
External links[]
- The Collection of Biostatistics Research Archive
- 'Epidemiology' – In: Philip S. Brachman, Medical Microbiology (fourth edition), US National Center for Biotechnology Information
- Monash Virtual Laboratory - Simulations of epidemic spread across a landscape
- People's Epidemiology Library
Categories:
- Infectious diseases
- Epidemiology
- Virus stubs