Question

A local epidemiologist is trying to find the attack rate in two communities ravaged by a Measles outbreak. Community A has 892 members, NO citizens have received the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine due to personal beliefs and financial reasons. 486 cases have been reported in Community A.

Community B is a larger community with 10,000 people. 95% of the citizens have the MMR vaccine (assume for this example the vaccine has 100% effectiveness, it doesn't in reality). 208 cases have been reported in the Community B outbreak.

Please help the epidemiologist and find out the Attack Rate for the Community A and Community B outbreaks.

Answer 1

Overall attack rate is calculated by dividing the number of infected individuals by the total population.

Explanation:

Attack rate = Number of infected or ill persons × 100

__________________________

Total population

Attack rate in community A:

486 × 100

___

892

= 54.5%.

Attack rate in community B

208 × 100

___

10000

= 2.08%.