Introduction to Epidemiology

Project Summary: For your session-long project, you will investigate an outbreak.

You work in the community outreach department at the Disease Control Office at the Wintersburg County Health Department. You have been requested to attend an emergency meeting with some epidemiologists. During the meeting, you were informed that 40 kids became ill with diarrhea and fever at Wintersburg Elementary School. Ten children were hospitalized. The diagnosis is Salmonella infection.

Assignment:

According to the epidemiologic triangle, there are three factors that influence the occurrence of disease:

Etiologic agent
Host factors
Environmental factors
Describe each of these factors for food-borne Salmonella infection. Do they all need to be present for disease to occur? (Review "Multiple Causation of Disease" on the modular Homepage.)

Assignment Expectations, in order to earn full credit:

Please write your paper in your own words. That is the only way I can evaluate your level of understanding. Quotes are rarely needed; if necessary, they should comprise less than 10% of a paper and must be properly cited.

Even though the papers must be written in your own words, you are required to cite sources for any statement of fact or idea that is not common knowledge. You must cite the sources within the body of the paper and include a reference list at the end of the paper.
You must clearly show that you have read the module homepage and the required background materials. You are welcome to do research in aIDition to €” but not instead of €” the required readings.

Your papers will be evaluated on the following factors:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonellosis. Technical Information. Retrieved February 21, 2013 from:
Describe the uses of Epidemiology and illustrate factors that influence the occurrence of disease using the epidemiologic triangle