It is the study of distribution and causes of disease. A group of epidemiologists will examine the incidence, distribution, and possible control of disease, illness and other factors relating to health. They are a group of trained professionals that study patterns of frequency and the causes and effects of diseases in human population .It provides scientific evidences for the improvement in health. Epidemiology is often related to public health .To brief it is the study of epidemics therefore it relies on a variety of relevant public health areas, including biology, biostatistics, social sciences, and assessing risk of exposure to a threat.
Epidemiologists investigate patterns and causes of diseases and injuries that affect people. They try to reduce diseases and injuries through community education and policy. Environmental epidemiologists study diseases that are known or suspected to be caused by environmental factors .Their research involves collecting and analyzing various types of data, including blood and tissue samples, interviews, and surveys. They monitor and report occurrences of disease to government health agencies.
To practice as an epidemiologist one must have studied subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology in their 12th standard from a recognized university.
Step 1 To be an epidemiologist one must have a good scientific background as their bachelor degree .
Step 2 After taking your BSc degree, take masters degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology.
Step 3 The institutes that give masters degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology are
1) National Centre for disease control , Delhi
2) All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health , West Bengal
3) National institute of Epidemiology , Chennai
Epidemiologists in research positions generally spend their time in offices, studying data and reports. Epidemiologists working for government agencies, on the other hand, may often travel and collect data in the field and conduct environmental investigations.According to medical norms, every medical college must have an epidemiologist, but those trained in the field are limited compared to the demand.
The salary of an epidemiologist will range from Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000. The salary can vary from place to place and experience .
