Incidence Rates

Incidence rates measure how often new cases of a specific condition or disease occur in a defined population during a certain period. It helps us understand the risk of developing that condition over time. For example, if 10 new cases of flu are recorded in a community of 1,000 people over one year, the incidence rate reflects how common new cases are relative to the population size and time period. It is usually expressed as a number per a specific population (e.g., per 1,000 or 100,000 people). This information helps public health officials track trends and plan interventions.