disease cluster
Localized illness concentration
A disease cluster is an unusual concentration of illness cases in a particular location or time period.
Public health investigators look for clusters to identify potential environmental causes or contagion sources: The cancer cluster near the factory prompted an EPA investigation.
Not every apparent cluster indicates a common cause—some reflect statistical coincidence or detection bias.
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- hotspotArea of notable activity
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
cases · incidence · contamination · exposure · cancer · childhood leukemia · leukemia · investigation · health department · mapping · proximity · environmental · toxic · pollution · neighborhood · community · surveillance · anomaly
- epidemiologyepidemic, epidemiology, pandemic, outbreak, endemic
- health crisespandemic, epidemic, outbreak, health emergency, public health emergency