Outbreak investigations

Outbreak investigations are efforts to identify and understand the cause of an outbreak of a disease. During an outbreak investigation, public health officials work to collect information about the outbreak, including how many people have been affected, where the outbreak is occurring, and any common exposures or risk factors among those affected.

The goal of an outbreak investigation is to determine the cause of the outbreak and to implement control measures to stop the spread of the disease. This may include identifying and treating those who are affected, implementing quarantine measures, and providing education to the public about how to prevent the spread of the disease. Outbreak investigations often involve collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies and may involve laboratory testing and other techniques to identify the cause of the outbreak.