Final answer:
Common source and propagated outbreaks are different types of disease outbreaks. A common source outbreak occurs when there is a single source of infection, while a propagated outbreak occurs through person-to-person contact. Examples of common source outbreaks include contaminated food or water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Common source and propagated outbreaks are different types of disease outbreaks. Common source outbreaks occur when there is a single source of infection for all individuals affected, such as contaminated food or water. On the other hand, propagated outbreaks occur through direct or indirect person-to-person contact, with each infected person becoming a source for subsequent infections.
An example of a common source outbreak is when multiple people get sick after eating contaminated potato salad at a picnic. This is a point source spread because the source operates for a short period of time. Propagated spread, on the other hand, can lead to longer duration outbreaks, where infections occur for longer than the incubation period.