the measure of disease incidence observed in a small population sample over a short time — during an epidemic, for example.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            The cumulative incidence of infection in a group observed over a period during an epidemic. This "rate" can be determined empirically by identifying clinical cases and/or by means of seroepidemiology. Because its time dimension is uncertain or arbitrarily decided, it should probably not be described as a rate. See also infection rate; secondary attack rate; seroepidemiology.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            an incidence rate usually expressed as a percentage
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                                                     
                        
                        
                            The proportion of an exposed population at risk that becomes infected or develops clinical illness during a defined period of time. [11
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            The proportion of an exposed population at risk who become infected or develop clinical illness during a defined period of time.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            A variant of an incident rate, applied to a narrowly defined population observed for a limited period of time, such as during an epidemic.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            An attack rate in epidemiology is the incidence of infection in a group of people over a period of time, usually in relation to foodborne illness.