Which of the following is NOT considered a basic principle of disease control?

The statement that the use of antibiotics is not considered a basic principle of disease control is accurate. The fundamental principles of disease control primarily focus on interventions that prevent disease transmission and reduce susceptibility within populations.

Control of the disease source involves identifying and managing the origins of pathogens to prevent their spread, which is foundational to public health efforts. Understanding the mode of transmission—how diseases spread between individuals—also plays a crucial role in designing strategies to mitigate outbreaks. Additionally, addressing susceptibility includes implementing vaccinations and health measures that bolster individual and community resistance to illnesses.

While antibiotics are critical tools in treating bacterial infections and can have an important role in managing disease in specific scenarios, they are not inherent principles of disease control. Instead, their value lies in treatment rather than prevention, which shifts the focus away from the core tenets of controlling disease spread and reducing susceptibility to infections.