patient zero
Noun
Meaning
(epidemiology) The initial patient in the population of an epidemiological investigation.
Synonyms: index case, index patient
(figuratively, informal) The source or origin of something.
Source: en.wiktionary.orgSynonyms
Examples
Among other things, one resident reported that before the quarantine, nervous taxi operators refused to provide service to and from the community since it was confirmed that Patient Zero resided there.
However, on Thursday, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Francis Martin, said that following the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, Grenada’s Patient Zero was stabilised after admittance and was discharged.
Genetic diversity analysis can be used to estimate how long a virus has been mutating away from Patient Zero.
Who was Patient Zero?