Editing Epidemic (section)

==Types==
{{Expand section|fuller description, examples, less jargon|date=September 2023}}

=== Common source outbreak ===
In a common source outbreak epidemic, the affected individuals had an exposure to a common agent. If the exposure is singular and all of the affected individuals develop the disease over a single exposure and incubation course, it can be termed as a point source outbreak. If the exposure was continuous or variable, it can be termed as a continuous outbreak or intermittent outbreak, respectively.<ref name="Principles of Epidemiology"/>{{rp|56}}

===Propagated outbreak===
In a propagated outbreak, the disease spreads person-to-person. Affected individuals may become independent reservoirs leading to further exposures.<ref name="Principles of Epidemiology"/>{{rp|56}}Many epidemics will have characteristics of both common source and propagated outbreaks (sometimes referred to as '''mixed outbreak''').{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

For example, secondary person-to-person spread may occur after a common source exposure or an environmental vector may spread a [[zoonotic]] diseases agent.<ref name="Principles of Epidemiology"/>{{rp|56–58}}