Outbreak - Outbreak Investigation

Outbreak Investigation

When investigating disease outbreaks, the epidemiology profession has developed a number of widely accepted steps. As described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these include the following:

• Verify the diagnosis related to the outbreak
• Identify the existence of the outbreak (Is the group of ill persons normal for the time of year, geographic area, etc.?)
• Create a case definition to define who/what is included as a case
• Map the spread of the outbreak using Information technology as diagnosis is reported to insurance
• Develop a hypothesis (What appears to be causing the outbreak?)
• Study hypothesis (collect data and perform analysis)
• Refine hypothesis and carry out further study
• Develop and implement control and prevention systems
• Release findings to greater communities