Abstract

Epidemiology, often described as the cornerstone of public health, is the scientific discipline that studies the distribution, determinants, and control of diseases in populations. The field provides critical insights into how diseases spread, who is at risk, and how to prevent and manage health issues on a community-wide scale. By understanding epidemiology, public health officials and researchers can develop strategies to reduce the burden of diseases and improve health outcomes globally.The roots of epidemiology can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Hippocrates, often referred to as the father of medicine, made early observations about disease patterns and their associations with environmental factors. However, modern epidemiology began to take shape in the 19th century with the pioneering work of John Snow, a British physician. Snow is famously known for his investigation of a cholera outbreak in London, where he mapped cases and identified a contaminated public water pump as the source of the outbreak. This investigation is considered one of the earliest applications of epidemiological methods and laid the groundwork for the field