👉 Rated infection, often referred to as "R-infection," is a measure used to quantify the severity of an infectious disease outbreak by considering both the number of infections and the rate at which they spread within a population. It is typically calculated by multiplying the basic reproduction number (R0), which indicates how many people, on average, one infected person will infect in a completely susceptible population, by the generation time—the average time it takes for an infected individual to produce new cases. This metric helps public health officials assess the potential impact of an outbreak and prioritize interventions. For example, a high R-infection value suggests a rapidly spreading disease that requires urgent action, such as increased vaccination efforts, quarantine measures, or enhanced hygiene practices, to control its transmission and mitigate its effects on the population.
