index case
noun
plural index cases
1
: the first documented case of an infectious disease or genetically transmitted condition or mutation in a population, region, or family
There were 54 cases of meningococcal disease in the 22 cluster schools, 30 of which occurred 1 or more days after the index case …—
K. M. Zangwill et al.
K. M. Zangwill et al.2
: an individual whose infectious disease or genetically transmitted condition or mutation is the first identified in a population, region, or family : index patient
The index case was identified as a 20-year-old female student who had spent the winter break in a California county where there was a widespread community outbreak of measles. She returned to campus and became ill four weeks before the first case was reported.—William A. Christmas et al.
William A. Christmas et al.A test of this model would require a more extensive family study, one that included the investigation of parents and other relatives, in addition to siblings, of the autistic index cases.—Susan E. Folstein
compare patient zero
Susan E. FolsteinExamples of index case in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further, these pediatric index cases were reduced by 60% to 80% during school breaks.
—Libby Richards, The Conversation, 9 Aug. 2024
But in only a handful of cases has the transmission of these evolved variants from index cases that have been well characterized been observed.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 24 Jan. 2024
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Libby Richards, The Conversation, 9 Aug. 2024
But in only a handful of cases has the transmission of these evolved variants from index cases that have been well characterized been observed.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 24 Jan. 2024
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“Index case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/index%20case. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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index case
noun1
: the first documented case of an infectious disease or a genetically transmitted condition or mutation in a population, region, or family
2
: an individual whose infectious disease or genetically transmitted condition or mutation is the first identified in a population, region, or family : index patient
We first examined the index case when he was aged 59 years …—Stephanie B. Matthews and Anthony Campbell
Stephanie B. Matthews and Anthony CampbellLove words? Need even more definitions?
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