The index case or patient zero is the initial patient in the population sample of an epidemiological investigation. Patient zero is a somewhat less specific term than index case and is sometimes used to refer to the central patient in an epidemiological investigation rather than the first patient. When used in general to refer to such patients in epidemiological investigations, the term is not capitalized. When the term is used to refer to a specific person in place of that person's name within a report on a specific investigation, the term is capitalized as Patient Zero. Often scientists search for the index case to determine how the disease spread and what reservoir holds the disease in between outbreaks. A patient is any person who receives medical attention, care, or treatment [1]. A patient is often ill or injured and is being treated by, or in need of treatment by, a physician or other medical professional. ... Epidemiology is the scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of individuals and populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. ... For any word written in a language with whose alphabet or alphabet equivalent has two cases, such as those using the Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, or Armenian alphabet, capitalization (or capitalisation) is the writing of that word with its first letter in majuscules (uppercase) and the remaining letters in minuscules (lowercase). ... A disease is an abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person afflicted or those in contact with the person. ... Virus outbreaks occur when a virus bypasses infection control measures and a relatively high number of infections are observed where no cases or sporadic cases occurred in the past. ...

The origin of the term "Patient Zero"

In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, there was a lot of controversy about a so-called Patient Zero who was the basis of a complex transmission scenario compiled by Dr. William Darrow and colleagues at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US. This epidemiological study showed how 'Patient O' (mistakenly identified in the press as 'Patient Zero') had given HIV to multiple partners, who then in turn transmitted it to others and rapidly spread the virus to locations all over the world (Auerbach et al., 1984). In all, at least 40 of the 248 people diagnosed with AIDS by April 1982 were thought to have had sex either with him or with someone who had. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (or acronym AIDS or Aids), is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ... Look up April in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A journalist, Randy Shilts, subsequently wrote an article based on Darrow's findings in his 1987 book And The Band Played On, in which it named Patient Zero as a gay Canadian flight attendant named Gaëtan Dugas (February 20, 1953—March 30, 1984 [1]). For several years, Dugas was vilified as a "mass spreader" of HIV and the original source of the HIV epidemic among gay men. However, four years after the publication of Shilts's article, Dr. Darrow repudiated his study, admitting that its methods were flawed and that Shilts had misrepresented the study's conclusions. Randy Shilts (August 8, 1951 – February 17, 1994) was a gay American journalist and author. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... And the Band Played On: People, Politics, and the AIDS Epidemic is a book written by San Francisco Chronicle journalist Randy Shilts (original copyright 1987) chronicling the discovery and spread of HIV and AIDS, with a special emphasis on alleged government indifference to what was initially perceived as a gay... Flight attendants, formerly called sky girls, air hostesses, stewardesses and stewards hold the primary responsibility for the safety and comfort of airline passengers. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other Patient Zeros

• Patient Zero was a character in the Canadian film Zero Patience.
• In the third Sliders episode, "Fever", Quinn's double is alleged to be Patient Zero of a global plague.
• The movie Outbreak dealt with government officials charged with finding the index case of an outbreak of an Ebola-like virus .

Zero Patience is a Canadian film directed by John Greyson and released in 1993. ... This article is about the Sci-Fi television show. ... Outbreak (1995) is a suspense film starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Morgan Freeman. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

See also

• Common misconceptions about HIV and AIDS
• Nurse Mayinga

Because the worldwide spread of AIDS has had such a tragic effect on millions of people worldwide, a number of misconceptions have arisen surrounding the disease. ... Nurse Mayinga was the first recorded victim in an Ebola epidemic in Zaïre. ...

References

• Auerbach DM, Darrow WW, Jaffe HW, Curran JW. (1984) Cluster of cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Patients linked by sexual contact. Am J Med. 76, 487-492 PMID 6608269

External links

• Article for the New York Review of Books by Dr. Andrew Moss, Dept. of Epidemiology and International Health, San Francisco, regarding the Patient Zero myth.