In the mid-1800s, an anesthesiologist named John Snow was conducting a series of investigations in London that warrant his being considered the “father of field epidemiology.” Twenty years before the development of the microscope, Snow conducted studies of cholera outbreaks both to discover the cause of disease and to ...
How did John Snow contribute to epidemiology?
In retrospect, Snow made several important contributions to the development of epidemiologic thinking: He proposed a new hypothesis for how cholera was transmitted . ... well and getting cholera. He argued for an intervention which prevented additional cases (removal of the pump handle).
Is John Snow the father of epidemiology?
Known as the father of epidemiology, John Snow was credited with ending a cholera outbreak in London . When hundreds of Soho residents suddenly contracted the deadly disease, Snow questioned the predominant theory that cholera was spread by polluted air.
Who is considered to be the father of epidemiology?
John Snow , Father of Epidemiology A London physician by the name of John Snow mapped out the spread of a cholera outbreak in the city 150 years ago.
Why was Jon Snow important public health?
But it was not until 1854 that the physician John Snow (1813-1858) made a major contribution to fighting cholera when he was able to demonstrate a link between cholera and the contaminated drinking water through his pioneering studies.
Who is known as First True epidemiologist?
The Greek physician Hippocrates is known as the father of medicine, and was the first epidemiologist.
What did Dr John Snow discover?
John Snow conducted pioneering investigations on cholera epidemics in England and particularly in London in 1854 in which he demonstrated that contaminated water was the key source of the epidemics.
How did John Snow prove his theory?
A few years later, Snow was able to prove his theory in dramatic circumstances. In August 1854, a cholera outbreak occurred in Soho . After careful investigation, including plotting cases of cholera on a map of the area, Snow was able to identify a water pump in Broad (now Broadwick) Street as the source of the disease.
How did John Snow track cholera?
Snow worked around the clock to track down information from hospital and public records on when the outbreak began and whether the victims drank water from the Broad Street pump . Snow suspected that those who lived or worked near the pump were the most likely to use the pump and thus, contract cholera.
Who found the cause of cholera?
As one a founder of the science of bacteriology, Robert Koch (1843-1910) enjoyed worldwide fame, including acknowledgement of his discovery in 1882 of the tubercle bacillus that caused tuberculosis and in 1884 the cholera bacillus, Vibrio cholerae.
What is the difference between pandemic and epidemic?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is that: Epidemic is a sudden outbreak of a disease in a certain geographical area . Pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that has spread across several countries or continents.
Who gave the germ theory?
The advent of the germ theory of disease, anticipated by Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–65) and consolidated by Louis Pasteur (1822–95), strongly influenced medical opinion toward an antibacterial stance.
What is the epidemiological triad of disease?
Among the simplest of these is the epidemiologic triad or triangle, the traditional model for infectious disease. The triad consists of an external agent, a susceptible host, and an environment that brings the host and agent together .
How was cholera stopped?
8, 1854: Pump Shutdown Stops London Cholera Outbreak. 1854: Physician John Snow convinces a London local council to remove the handle from a pump in Soho.
Who was considered the father of public health?
Dr. Snow is frequently referred to as the ‘father of public health, but he is equally known as the father of modern epidemiology for his contributions to disease control. In 1854, a devastating cholera epidemic raged across Europe killing more than 500 people within ten days in London alone.
Why was the miasma theory so popular?
Supporters of the miasma theory felt that cholera was one such condition caused by noxious odors of decayed matter . The miasma theory was very appealing to English sanitary reformers. It explain why diseases were epidemic in the undrained, filthy and stinking areas inhabited by the poor.
