Question

What are the key steps involved in disease outbreak investigation? Please offer specific examples.

Answer 1

Will submit the example in half an hour

Epidemiologist follow the following steps(main steps) when there is an outbreak to formally address the outbreak and form strategy to deal with the epidemic:

Step 1: Prepare for field work

Investigation of the outbreak is done implementing the scientific knowledge and using supplies and equipment. Then the further procedures are administered.

Step 2: Establish the existence of an outbreak

In this steps hospital records are assessed and the current number of cases are compared with the number of cases from comparable period.

Step 3: Verify the diagnosis

Proper diagnosis is done with mitigating laboratory errors and the clinic and lab data are reviewed.

Step 4: Construct a working case definition

Clinical criteria and restrictions are implemented as to minimize the outbreak.