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When investigating disease outbreaks, the epidemiology profession has developed a number of widely accepted steps. As described by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these include the following: [2] Identify the existence of the outbreak (Is the group of ill persons normal for the time of year, geographic area, etc.?)
Epidemiological (and other observational) studies typically highlight associations between exposures and outcomes, rather than causation. While some consider this a limitation of observational research, epidemiological models of causation (e.g. Bradford Hill criteria) [7] contend that an entire body of evidence is needed before determining if an association is truly causal. [8]
These investigations are carried out in order to prevent additional cases in the current outbreak, prevent future outbreaks, learn about a new disease or learn something new about an old disease. Reassuring the public, minimizing the economic and social disruption as well as teaching epidemiology are some other obvious objectives of outbreak ...
Outbreak response or outbreak control measures are acts which attempt to minimize the spread of or effects of a disease outbreak.Outbreak response includes aspects of general disease control such as maintaining adequate hygiene, but may also include responses that extend beyond traditional healthcare settings and are unique to an outbreak, such as physical distancing, contact tracing, mapping ...
Applied field epidemiology can include investigating communicable and non-communicable disease outbreaks, mortality and morbidity rates, and nutritional status, among other indicators of health, with the purpose of communicating the results to those who can implement appropriate policies or disease control measures.
Contact tracing generally involves the following steps as provided by CDC: [7] Notification of exposure: An individual is identified as having a communicable disease (often called the index case). [7] This case may be reported to public health or managed by the primary health care provider. [7]
Disease surveillance is an epidemiological practice by which the spread of disease is monitored in order to establish patterns of progression. The main role of disease surveillance is to predict, observe, and minimize the harm caused by outbreak, epidemic, and pandemic situations, as well as increase knowledge about which factors contribute to such circumstances.
The health departments then report their findings through NORS, where the data is aggregated and analyzed by the CDC. [1] Detailed information on how to use NORS is available on the CDC website. These training materials explain the process for creating reports, uploading laboratory and outbreak data, and addressing entry issues. [5]