Epidemiology: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Epidemiology

Sample item

An infectious disease has a basic reproduction number (R0) of 0.8 in a susceptible population. What is expected?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. The outbreak will die out

R0 is the average number of secondary cases produced by one case in a fully susceptible population. When R0 is below one each case produces fewer than one new case, so transmission cannot sustain itself.

Option by option

  • A. Everyone in the population will be infected

    Universal infection needs a much higher R0.

  • B. The outbreak will grow exponentially

    Exponential growth needs R0 above one.

  • C. The outbreak will die out (correct)

    With fewer than one secondary case per case, chains of transmission fade out.

  • D. The disease will become endemic

    Endemic persistence needs R0 near one or more.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, The outbreak will die out. R0 is the average number of secondary cases produced by one case in a fully susceptible population.

Why is "Everyone in the population will be infected" not the answer?

Universal infection needs a much higher R0.

Why is "The outbreak will grow exponentially" not the answer?

Exponential growth needs R0 above one.

Why is "The disease will become endemic" not the answer?

Endemic persistence needs R0 near one or more.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Epidemiology in PSM. When R0 is below one each case produces fewer than one new case, so transmission cannot sustain itself.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Epidemiology?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.