Haiguspuhangute

Haiguspuhangute is the Estonian term for disease outbreaks, referring to the occurrence of multiple cases of a disease within a defined population, time, and place that exceed normal expectancy. The concept is used in public health to describe events that may indicate a common source, a new introduction, or ongoing transmission.

Outbreaks can vary in scope and pattern. They may affect a small group, such as a school or workplace, or span larger geographic areas. They are often categorized as point-source (a single exposure), propagated (person-to-person transmission), or continuous/mixed patterns, depending on how cases arise and spread.

Detection and surveillance are central to identifying haiguspuhangute. Public health systems rely on notifiable disease reports, laboratory confirmations, sentinel or syndromic surveillance, and rapid data analysis. An outbreak is typically investigated when the number of cases or the rate of illness is higher than expected for a given setting and period.

Investigation involves confirming cases, developing a case definition, constructing a line list, and analyzing patterns to identify the source and transmission routes. Control measures may include isolation or treatment of cases, vaccination campaigns, hygiene and sanitation improvements, environmental interventions, and risk communication to the public.

Understanding outbreaks supports prevention and response planning, guiding policy decisions and resource allocation. The term haiguspuhangute is primarily used in Estonian public health literature and practice, aligning with broader epidemiological concepts of surveillance, investigation, and outbreak management.