What are "preventive measures" in disease control?

Preventive measures in disease control encompass strategies specifically designed to avert the occurrence of diseases before they happen. This proactive approach emphasizes risk reduction and includes various activities such as vaccination, health education, screening, and promoting healthy behaviors. By targeting the root causes or early signs of disease, preventive measures help in reducing the incidence and spread of illnesses within populations, ultimately leading to improved public health outcomes.

Focused treatment after infection is a reactive approach, while the development of new vaccines is a form of research and innovation that can also be considered a preventive measure but not in the broad context of controlling diseases. Additionally, improving access to treatments pertains to managing existing conditions rather than preventing new cases.