undefined
You are a member of the Hepatitis Unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. The year is 1968. On May 15th, a request to assist in the investigation of an outbreak of infectious Hepatitis A was extended. You learned that 55 cases of infectious hepatitis had been reported to District #2 Health Department in North Trail, Michigan.
undefined
Question # 1
undefined
Knowing that between April 1 and May 15, 1968, there were 55 cases of Hepatitis A infection reported to the County Health Department, could you conclude that this is a problem of epidemic proportion?
undefined
Justify your response.
undefined
undefined
undefined
Question #2
undefined
Are 55 cases in excess of normal expectancy?
How did you establish whether this is greater than expected?
undefined
Question #3
undefined
As members of the Hepatitis Unit you determined that all of the reported hepatitis victims should be interviewed as the first step of the investigation. They will be interviewed in their homes if possible. What questions will you ask?You should identify at least ten questions.
undefined
What other actions might you take at this time in the investigation while you are at the victims’ homes?
undefined
Question #4
undefined
What information can you identify from studying daily incidence and the epidemic curve?
undefined
Question #5
undefined
Make observations about the characteristics of the outbreak in terms of time (i.e, Which decade of age had the highest attack rate? And What hypothesis relative to time and person can you make at this point in the investigation?)
undefined
Question #6
undefined
Make observations about the characteristics of the outbreak in terms of place.
undefined
What can you conclude from this information about the distribution of disease in terms of time and place?
Sample Solution