Introduction to Outbreak Investigation
Intended Audience
Frontline public health practitioners who need to understand the components of an outbreak investigation or who might be called upon to assist in an outbreak investigation.
This module may also be useful for healthcare providers in private practice, laboratorians, emergency response and bioterrorism preparedness planners who need to understand what an outbreak investigation consists of and who is typically involved.
Prerequisites
Participants should have a basic familiarity with epidemiology terms and infectious disease epidemiology concepts, including a basic understanding of the following concepts: incubation period; exposure; disease transmission; attack rate; cases and controls; agent, environment, and host.
We recommend that those who are not familiar with these concepts first complete the Basic Infectious Disease Concepts in Epidemiology module.
Format
Web-based, Flash presentation. This online module has an audio narration and interactive exercises and scenarios. This module should take about one hour to complete.
Co-provider
This course is co-provided by the University of Washington School of Nursing.
The University of Washington School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Participants who successfully complete the course are eligible to receive a certificate for 1.0 contact hours for a processing fee of $35.
Module Instructor
Jeff Duchin, MD
- Chief, Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology and Immunization Section
Public Health - Seattle & King County - Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine
Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Community Medicine
Faculty, Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
University of Washington
Technical Requirements
This module requires certain software and browser plugins to be installed. See our Technical Requirements page for details.
Supplemental Material
If you would like to obtain a print copy of the audio narration before beginning the course, download the module transcript below.
