lesson4

Question 1

Front: What is an outbreak?

Answer 1

Back: An outbreak is an epidemic that occurs in a limited geographic area, such as an institution, a home, or a neighborhood.

Question 2

Front: What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?

Answer 2

Back:
• Epidemic: A sudden increase in cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population.
• Pandemic: An epidemic that spreads across several countries and affects a large number of people.

Question 3

Front: What is a disease cluster?

Answer 3

Back: A cluster is the aggregation of cases in a given area over a specific period, regardless of whether the number of cases is more than expected.

Question 4

Front: Name three ways outbreaks are detected.

Answer 4

Back:
1. Analyzing surveillance data for unusual increases in disease reports.
2. Hospitals and infection control teams monitoring lab results and patient data.
3. Vigilant physicians noticing unusual clusters of symptoms in patients.

Question 5

Front: What factors influence the decision to investigate an outbreak?

Answer 5

Back:
1. Number of cases and clustering.
2. Type and severity of the disease.
3. Ease of transmission and control measures.
4. Availability of staff and resources.

Question 6

Front: What are the main reasons for conducting an outbreak investigation?

Answer 6

Back:
1. Control and prevention of the disease.
2. Research opportunity to learn more.
3. Public or legal concerns.

Question 7

Front: What is the first step in an outbreak investigation?

Answer 7

Back: Prepare for fieldwork by gathering staff, equipment, and resources for the investigation.

Question 8

Front: How do you establish the existence of an outbreak?

Answer 8

Back: Compare current case numbers with historical data and determine if there is an unusual increase.

Question 9

Front: Why is verifying the diagnosis important?

Answer 9

Back: To ensure that:
1. The disease has been properly diagnosed.
2. The increase in cases is not due to a lab error.

Question 10

Front: What is a case definition in outbreak investigation?

Answer 10

Back: A case definition is a set of criteria used to classify an individual as having the disease or not.

Question 11

Front: What are the three types of cases in an outbreak?

Answer 11

Back:
1. Confirmed: Laboratory-tested positive cases.
2. Probable: Clinical symptoms match but no lab confirmation.
3. Possible: Some symptoms but not fully matching case criteria.

Question 12

Front: What information is collected from each case in an outbreak?

Answer 12

Back: Name, demographics, risk factors, exposure history, symptoms, lab results, and who reported the case.

Question 13

Front: What is a line list in outbreak investigation?

Answer 13

Back: A line list is a document summarizing key details about each case in an outbreak.

Question 14

Front: What are the three core elements of descriptive epidemiology?

Answer 14

Back: Person (who?), Place (where?), and Time (when?).

Question 15

Front: What is an epidemic curve?

Answer 15

Back: A bar chart that shows the number of new cases over time in an outbreak.

Question 16

Front: How can you estimate the exposure period using an epidemic curve?

Answer 16

Back:
1. Identify the peak of the outbreak.
2. Count back one average incubation period.
3. Identify the earliest case and count back the minimum incubation period.

Question 17

Front: Name the three types of epidemic curves.

Answer 17

Back:
1. Common Point Source: Single exposure, sharp rise and fall.
2. Continuous Common Source: Prolonged exposure, several peaks.
3. Propagated Source: Person-to-person spread, increasing peaks.

Question 18

Front: What is a common point source outbreak?

Answer 18

Back: An outbreak where all cases are exposed to the same source at the same time (e.g., contaminated food at an event).

Question 19

Front: What is a continuous common source outbreak?

Answer 19

Back: An outbreak where exposure continues over time, causing multiple peaks in cases.

Question 20

Front: What is a propagated source outbreak?

Answer 20

Back: A person-to-person spread outbreak where cases serve as sources for more infections.

Question 21

Front: What are the key questions to ask after analyzing an epidemic curve?

Answer 21

Back:
1. Is the outbreak from a single or multiple sources?
2. Is it spreading from person to person?
3. Is exposure continuing or from a past event?

Question 22

Front: What factors affect disease variation by place?

Answer 22

Back: Clusters of cases may indicate an environmental or localized source of exposure.

Question 23

Front: What factors affect disease variation by person?

Answer 23

Back: Age, sex, occupation, travel history, and lifestyle can influence disease risk.

Question 24

Front: What is a hypothesis in outbreak investigation?

Answer 24

Back: A proposed explanation about the source, transmission, and risk factors of the outbreak.

Question 25

Front: How is a hypothesis evaluated in outbreak investigation?

Answer 25

Back: 1. Compare findings with lab tests and environmental assessments. 2. Conduct epidemiological studies (case-control or cohort studies).

Question 26

Front: What is a case-control study in outbreak investigation?

Answer 26

Back: A study where cases (sick people) are compared to controls (healthy people) to determine risk factors.

Question 27

Front: What is a cohort study in outbreak investigation?

Answer 27

Back: A study where a well-defined population is divided into exposed vs. unexposed groups to assess disease risk.

Question 28

Front: Why compare findings with lab and environmental studies?

Answer 28

Back: To confirm the source of the outbreak by testing food, water, or environmental samples.

Question 29

Front: What are the key prevention and control measures in an outbreak?

Answer 29

Back: 1. Treat affected individuals. 2. Remove the source of infection. 3. Prevent further spread through quarantine or public health actions.

Question 30

Front: Why is communicating outbreak findings important?

Answer 30

Back: • Reports help inform public health officials. • Scientific publications share findings with the medical community. • Helps prevent future outbreaks.