This glossary was created with input from members of PICNet, PHAC Infection Control Guidelines and the BC Ministry of Health. A list of references is available here. Definitions will be updated frequently and may change or be removed. Please send us your comments and feedback by email to picnet@phsa.ca.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Occupational health: the specialized practice of medicine, public health and ancillary health professions in an occupational setting. Its aims are to promote health as well as to prevent occupationally related diseases and injuries and the impairments arising there from, and when work related illness or injury occurs to treat these conditions. (11)

Outbreak: An excess over the expected incidence of disease within a geographic area during a specified time period, synonymous with epidemic (9).