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
Read more about this topic: Outbreak