Outbreak 288321 225500690 2008-07-14T00:52:57Z 134.192.58.224 /* Types */ {{Otheruses}} '''Outbreak''' is a classification used in [[epidemiology]] to describe a small, localized group of people or organisms infected with a disease. Such groups are often confined to a village or a small area. Two linked cases of an infectious disease are usually sufficient to constitute an outbreak. Outbreaks may also refer to [[epidemic]]s, which affect a region in a country or a group of countries, or [[pandemic]]s, which describe global disease outbreaks. ==Outbreak Investigation==<!-- This section is linked from [[Epidemiology]] --> When investigating disease outbreaks, the epidemiology profession has developed a number of widely accepted steps. As described by the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], these include the following<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/excite/classroom/outbreak/steps.htm EXCITE | Epidemiology in the Classroom | Outbreak Steps<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>: * Verify the diagnosis related to the outbreak * Identify the existence of the outbreak: is the group of ill persons normal for the time of year, geographic area, etc.? * Create a [[case definition]] to define who/what is included as a case * Complete [[descriptive epidemiology]]: describe outbreak with respect to time, place, and people * Develop a hypothesis: what appears to be causing the outbreak? * Study hypothesis: collect data and perform analysis * Refine hypothesis and carry out further study * Develop and implement control and prevention systems * Release findings to greater community ==Types== * Common source (Point source) * Propagated * Continuous source * Behavioral risk related * [[Zoonotic]] ==Notes== {{Wiktionary}} <references/> [[Category:Epidemiology]] [[es:Brote]] [[ja:アウトブレイク]] [[pt:Surto]]