Step 1
Choose any transmissible disease to focus on for this assignment (you will focus on that same disease in the assignment that follows in Week 7). The disease you focus on should be a transmissible disease of concern in your own community or area of interest. You may choose to reference your county or state Department of Health (DOH) as well as the CDC website to narrow your focus. As an option, you can also choose to use one of these websites to narrow your focus to a disease of concern near you:
Global Incident Map Displaying Outbreaks of All Varieties of DiseasesLinks to an external site..
The Global Health Observatory Map GalleryLinks to an external site..
Step 2
Write a 1-2 page report to an audience of interest in which you do the following:
Identify and cite at least three relevant and reliable sources of data an epidemiological manager would consult when managing this outbreak.
You may consult any reliable Internet resources as long as they are less than 5 years old. This may include reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the World Health Organization (WHO).
Your resources should also provide a clear and concise summary of the data and results.
Summarize the major findings on the disease. Include a table from at least one of your resources that includes that report's data.
Full Answer Section
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- Data Summary: The DOH data provides the ground-level view of the outbreak's spread, including incidence rates, case fatality rates, and temporal trends specific to our community. The manager would use this to create case maps and track the epidemic curve.
- Example from a hypothetical report: The DOH's latest report would highlight a sharp increase in cases in the last 30 days, primarily among young adults and children in specific sub-counties. This trend suggests a potential common source of infection.
- Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH) National and County-Level Reports: The Ministry of Health provides aggregated data on outbreaks across Kenya. This offers a broader perspective, helping to contextualize the local outbreak within the national picture. The MOH's reports also include information on resource availability, national public health advisories, and standardized response protocols.
- Data Summary: The MOH reports would provide a comparison of the Kisii County outbreak to other outbreaks nationally, helping to determine if the local situation is isolated or part of a larger, widespread event. This is essential for resource allocation, such as requesting additional vaccines or supplies from the national government. The reports also provide a summary of the nationwide status of vaccine coverage.
- Example: A recent MOH report would show that while Kisii County is experiencing a local surge, the overall national trend is stable, indicating that this is a localized outbreak that needs to be contained.
- World Health Organization (WHO) Outbreak Network (GOARN) Data: The WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) provides a global context for the outbreak. While not specific to our county, the WHO's reports on HAV epidemiology offer best practices for managing similar outbreaks, information on new strains, and data on international vaccine supply chains.
- Data Summary: The WHO's data would offer a comprehensive overview of Hepatitis A epidemiology, including transmission routes, risk factors, and the effectiveness of different public health interventions in various countries. This global perspective helps an epidemiological manager to make informed decisions about local strategies.
- Example from a 2023 WHO report: The WHO would highlight that recent outbreaks in other parts of the world have been linked to contaminated food and water sources, underscoring the importance of targeting sanitation in our response. The report would also contain a table summarizing the global distribution of the disease and its impact, as shown below.
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Table 1: Hepatitis A Reported Cases and Outbreaks, Global, 2022-2023
Major Findings on the Disease
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness. It is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, most commonly via contaminated food and water, or direct contact with an infected person. Our analysis of the combined data from these sources yields several key findings:
- Transmission: The primary driver of the Kisii County outbreak appears to be poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water in high-density areas. The clustering of cases in specific neighborhoods points to a common source, likely a contaminated food vendor or a public water source.
- Population at Risk: The most affected demographic is young adults and children, which is consistent with the known epidemiology of the disease in regions with low sanitation standards. This age group is particularly vulnerable due to a lack of prior immunity and increased exposure.
- Outbreak Pattern: The outbreak exhibits an epidemic curve with a rapid increase in cases, suggesting a point-source epidemic, which is now starting to transition into a person-to-person spread. This requires a rapid, targeted response to both contain the initial source and prevent further community transmission.
The data from these sources confirms that a multi-faceted public health response is needed. This response must include immediate efforts to identify and control the source of the infection, a rapid and targeted vaccination campaign for high-risk populations, and an intensive public education campaign on hygiene and sanitation practices.
Sample Answer
Hepatitis A Outbreak Report: Data Sources and Findings
Introduction
This report identifies key data sources that an epidemiological manager would consult when managing a Hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak in Kisii County, Kenya. While HAV is a vaccine-preventable disease, outbreaks in our region are a public health concern due to issues with sanitation, hygiene, and vaccine coverage. Effective outbreak management relies on timely, accurate data from multiple reliable sources to inform a strategic response.
Reliable Data Sources for Outbreak Management
An epidemiological manager would consult the following three relevant and reliable sources of data to manage a Hepatitis A outbreak:
- County Department of Health (DOH) Surveillance Data: The most immediate and localized source of information is the Kisii County Department of Public Health's surveillance system. This system collects real-time data on reported cases from hospitals, clinics, and laboratories within the county. The data includes patient demographics, geographic location, date of symptom onset, and laboratory confirmation status. This information is crucial for identifying clusters of cases, tracing the source of the infection, and determining the most affected populations.