Question

Epidemiologist: In Brazil, schistosomiasis and malaria are the two most common infectious diseases. Over the past five years, schistosomiasis has been primarily responsible for the overall increase in infectious disease cases. Therefore it is likely that there were more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria five years ago.Which of the following most strengthens the argument above?A. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by schistosomiasis has remained unchanged, but the percentage of cases caused by malaria has increased substantially.B. Trends in infectious disease data tend to persist for decades, unless there is a major breakthrough in treatment regimens.C. Five years ago, many more people died from schistosomiasis than died from malaria. D. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by malaria was not significantly greater than the percentage of cases caused by schistosomiasis.E. Over the past five years, the percentage of infectious disease cases caused by diseases other than malaria and schistosomiasis did not increase substantially.

Answer 1

B. Trends in infectious disease data tend to persist for decades, unless there is a major breakthrough in treatment regimens

Step-by-step explanation:

Infectious diseases are very common in developing countries, where sanitation conditions are not yet adequate, as in much of Brazil.

The report states that cases of schistosomiasis have increased over the past five years and suggest that there were probably more cases of schistosomiasis than malaria 5 years ago. This assumption is possible because cases of infectious diseases tend to persist for long periods, which is statistically understood as a trend. If 5 years ago schistosomiasis had the largest number of cases of infectious disease, the trend has only been maintained to date.