Understanding the Wuhan Coronavirus through the Epidemic Triangle
Six positive cases of the Wuhan coronavirus have been confirmed in the United States in Illinois, Washington, California, and Arizona. The CDC is closely monitoring the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named 2019-mCoV. The situation developing rapidly and public health officials are walking the line between epidemic readiness and needless panic. This New York Times article attempts to cut through the headlines and use a simple concept called the “epidemic triangle.” Employed by epidemiologists since the discipline’s earliest days, it is indispensable in predicting whether localized outbreaks will transform into full-blown epidemics.
