A graph showing the number of cases of a disease or other health event over time during an outbreak or epidemic.
An epidemic curve, often called an epi curve, helps public health professionals understand how an outbreak developed. The shape and timing of cases can provide clues about the pattern of exposure and transmission.
Different patterns may suggest a common-source outbreak, a propagated outbreak involving person-to-person transmission, or a combination of exposure patterns.
QUICK FACT
An epidemic curve shows when cases occurred, not simply how many cases exist in total.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Epidemic: the disease occurrence itself; an epidemic curve is a graphical tool used to analyze its timing.
SEE ALSO