OUTBREAK DETECTION

Outbreak Detection



Outbreak Detection

Question 1

Yes! In my opinion, the discussed situation presents an outbreak in the college, as hundreds of students were found to suffer from the similar symptoms and disease. The major indication of outbreak is the increasing number of patients reported with similar symptoms; the investigators analyze that what is the expected average number of patients of a particular diseases in some area (CDC-a, 2012). If the number of reported patients rises beyond the expectation, then there is high probability of outbreak. As it is clearly unusual for a college to have hundreds of students ill, at the same time frame, therefore there is high probability of outbreak at college.

Question 2

Usually, the Cryptosporidial infection transmits by the use of fecally contaminated water and food. In addition, the transmission may also be a result of animal-person contact or person-person contact. Just a small amount of contamination can transmit the disease to large number of people (Hannahs, 1996). Most commonly, the diseases spreads if a person swallows something which came into contact with the contaminated stool, or by accidentally swallowing the recreational contaminated water.

The government should ensure drinking of filtered water for all its citizens, especially when the outbreak is detected. The awareness programs should be broadcasted on media, which include details about the diseases, preventions, and how to avoid transmitting it.

Question 3

The major sources of information in the given scenario are the students. They should be interviewed whether someone else in their family who lives outside the college campus, is suffering from the similar diseases, or similar symptoms. As it is hard to detect Cryptosporidial infection, and diagnosing laboratory tests are not available at all health care centres, it is highly likely, that family members of the students would be suffering from the same diseases, but unknowingly.

Additionally, media can serve as another information source; TV, internet and print media can provide quick information on the present health conditions of the community.

Question 4

As shown in figure 1, the number of patients reporting watery diarrhoea and symptoms similar to cryptosporidiosis increased significantly during the period of December 14 to January 21. The number of cases reported was almost uniform from 14th to 11th December; the number of reported cases was highest during the period 18th to 25th January. The increase in frequency of the reported cases is mainly due to the fact that this is the time when the disease was diagnosed in the college students. The course of the outbreak did not appear to be over as the histogram did not show the decline in number of patients, possibly because the report of last week is not complete.

Question 5

Total coliform counts indicate the presence of a certain bacteria in the water, which is commonly found in the soil, plants, intestines of humans and animals and in water. The acceptable level of total coliform helps in managing quality of the drinking water system; however it must be noted that the safe value of coliform counts is ...