Occasionally, the objective of an investigation may simply be to learn more about the natural hi
Occasionally, the objective of an investigation may simply be to learn more about the natural history, clinical spectrum, descriptive epidemiology, and risk factors of the disease before determining what disease intervention methods might be appropriate. Early investigations of the epidemic of SARS in 2003 were needed to establish a case definition based on the clinical presentation and to characterize the populations at risk by time, place, and person. As more was learned about the epidemiology of the disease and the communicability of the virus, appropriate recommendations regarding isolation and quarantine were issued.
Field investigations of the type described above are sometimes referred to as “shoe leather epidemiology,” conjuring up images of dedicated, if haggard, epidemiologists beating the pavement in search of additional cases and clues regarding source and mode of transmission. This approach is commemorated in the symbol of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), CDC’s training program for disease detectives — a shoe with a hole in the sole story, clinical spectrum, descriptive epidemiology, and risk factors of the disease before determining what disease intervention methods might be appropriate. Early investigations of the epidemic of SARS in 2003 were needed to establish a case definition based on the clinical presentation and to characterize the populations at risk by time, place, and person. As more was learned about the epidemiology of the disease and the communicability of the virus, appropriate recommendations regarding isolation and quarantine were issued.
Field investigations of the type described above are sometimes referred to as “shoe leather epidemiology,” conjuring up images of dedicated, if haggard, epidemiologists beating the pavement in search of additional cases and clues regarding source and mode of transmission. This approach is commemorated in the symbol of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), CDC’s training program for disease detectives — a shoe with a hole in the sole.