Disease Outbreak Investigation

A disease outbreak investigation is a systematic process used by health professionals to identify the cause, source, and spread of a health problem in a community. When multiple people get sick with the same illness, investigators look for common factors like where they ate, worked, or socialized. They collect data through interviews, laboratory tests, and environmental assessments to find the source and determine how to control and prevent further cases. This process helps public health officials respond quickly, reduce the outbreak's impact, and prevent future occurrences.