👉 Velocity of infection refers to the rate at which a pathogen spreads through a population, typically measured as the number of new infections per unit time. This concept is crucial in epidemiology and public health, as it helps predict the trajectory of an outbreak and inform intervention strategies. The velocity is influenced by factors such as the transmission rate (how easily the pathogen spreads from one person to another), the contact rate (how often individuals interact), and the duration of infectiousness (how long an infected person can transmit the disease). Understanding this velocity allows health officials to model the spread, allocate resources effectively, and implement measures like quarantine or vaccination to slow down or halt the infection's progression.
