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Disease Detectives
By Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke
2022

Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke is a science and humanities teacher based in Washington, D.C. In this
informational text, Pratt-Tuke describes the important work that epidemiologists do. As you
read, take notes on the work that epidemiologists do.

[1] In 2020, the world shut down as the

infectious1 coronavirus spread. Families
quarantined. Schools went virtual.
Communities masked and gloved up.

But before the pandemic hit the United

States, Michael Callahan was at ground zero
in Asia, trying to understand this new virus.
Callahan is an epidemiologist — or, as many
in the field describe themselves, a disease
detective. Epidemiologists study the causes
and spread of diseases. As an epidemiologist, "Untitled" by mariohagen is licensed under
Callahan asks questions like, “What caused CC0.
the coronavirus? How is the virus
transmitted?2 Who is most at risk? And how can we prevent the virus from spreading?”

Callahan specializes in field epidemiology, which means he works directly with communities
experiencing public health crises. Often covered from head to toe in a biocontainment suit,
Callahan responds to disease disasters. He controls the outbreak, investigates the causes, and
works with communities to put disease prevention strategies in place. For example, Callahan
flew to Japan in February 2020 to safely evacuate3 four passengers from the Diamond Princess,
a cruise ship suffering a coronavirus outbreak.

Callahan decided to pursue a career in epidemiology after working in a refugee camp in Africa,
where he witnessed the uncontrollable spread of diseases. “I realized that it wasn’t the
earthquake or tsunami that’s killing everybody, but it’s the malaria, the dengue, and waterborne

1. Infectious (adjective) something that is easily shared to and affects others, usually through
germs or disease
2. Transmit (verb) to pass on or spread
3. to remove people from a place that is considered unsafe

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 diseases that come afterward. Infectious disease is a slow-rolling disaster. And it goes on
forever,” Callahan shared.

[5] After returning from Africa, Callahan earned a master’s degree in International Public Health
and attended medical school at the University of Alabama. Over the last 20 years, he has
worked in Ebola clinics in Africa and fought the SARS virus in Hong Kong. He has researched
how to rapidly develop vaccines to fight diseases and worked for the Department of Defense to
predict emerging4 diseases. At the height of coronavirus outbreaks, Callahan suited up and
treated COVID patients at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Fighting Disease On Many Fronts

But, not all epidemiologists travel the globe and put themselves in disease disaster zones.
Scientists in the field of epidemiology often specialize and concentrate their learning and efforts
on a specific issue. More than half of epidemiologists work with government agencies, like the
Center for Disease Control (CDC). About 15% work in hospitals to keep patients and doctors
safe, and 11% work as researchers or teachers at universities.

For instance, medical epidemiologists study outbreaks of diseases and search for cures. They
look for remedies5 in medicines and treatments6 and research how lifestyle changes affect
diseases. Medical epidemiologists could analyze what types of drugs or diets prevent heart
disease best.

Another kind of epidemiologist, pharmacoepidemiologist, spends a lot of time in laboratories.

These researchers study how diseases react to medicines and calculate7 the possibility of
harmful side effects of drugs. Then, they communicate8 these findings to hospitals, government
agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

Infection control epidemiologists work in hospitals and clinics. To help hospitals and doctors'
offices control outbreaks, these epidemiologists create preparedness plans. In addition, they
educate health care workers, investigate outbreaks of infection, and promote hygiene practices
like hand washing to reduce infections and the spread of diseases.

[10] Academic research epidemiologists work at universities to investigate the causes and effects of
infectious diseases. They collect samples of blood and body fluids to study how viruses affect
the human body. They also interview infected people to learn how lifestyle and people’s choices

4. Emerge (verb) to come into being; develop

5. Remedy (noun) something used to take away pain or heal a disease
6. Treatment (noun) a series of measures designed to treat or cure a disease or sickness
7. Calculate (verb) to determine using math
8. Communicate (verb) to tell

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change how diseases spread.

Veterinary epidemiologists study how diseases spread in animals. They diagnose the cause of
diseases in animals and devise solutions to stop it from spreading. They also protect humans
from illnesses by limiting the spread of disease transmitted to humans through eating livestock
like cows, chickens, and pigs.

The Skills of Disease Detectives

Whether epidemiologists work at the scene of an outbreak, for the government, or in a

laboratory, they share some common characteristics. Like all detectives, epidemiologists must
be strong observers. This means they notice details and gather lots of information. They also
demonstrate critical thinking, analyzing data, spotting trends, and developing theories about
the causes and spread of diseases. To present their findings to doctors, government officials,
and the public, epidemiologists must communicate clearly. Finally, epidemiologists are problem
solvers, coming up with solutions to health crises and the spread of disease.

Do you have what it takes to be a disease detective?

"Disease Detectives" by Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke. Copyright © 2022 by CommonLit, Inc. This text is
licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

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 Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete
sentences.

1. What is the main idea of the article?

A. Epidemiologists work hard to keep animals from spreading diseases to
humans.
B. Epidemiologists do important work to keep people safe from diseases.
C. Studying animals and their environments is called epidemiology.
D. Michael Callahan is the world's most famous epidemiologist.

2. Why does the author begin the article with information about Michael Callahan?
A. to tell the reader about a time Michael Callahan was honored for his work
B. to show how even epidemiologists can become sick with COVID
C. to give an example of the type of work epidemiologists can do
D. to explain how difficult it is to become an epidemiologist

3. In paragraph 11, the word "devise" most closely means —

A. create
B. split up
C. investigate
D. stop

4. Which line from the text supports the author's claim that epidemiologists must be
good observers?
A. "About 15% work in hospitals to keep patients and doctors safe, and 11%
work as researchers or teachers at universities." (Paragraph 6)
B. "They look for remedies in medicines and treatments and research how
lifestyle changes affect diseases." (Paragraph 7)
C. "Then, they communicate these findings to hospitals, government
agencies, and pharmaceutical companies." (Paragraph 8)
D. "To present their findings to doctors, government officials, and the public,
epidemiologists must communicate clearly." (Paragraph 12)

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5. According to the author, how are epidemiologists like detectives?
Like all detectives, epidemiologists must be strong observers. This means they notice details and
gather lots of information. They also demonstrate critical thinking, analyzing data, spotting trends, and
developing theories about the causes and spread of diseases.

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 Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be
prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion.

1. Think about the skills that someone would need to be an epidemiologist. Is this a
career you would be interested in? Why or why not?

2. What other characteristics, besides those listed in the text, do you think it would take
for someone to be an epidemiologist (e.g. brave)?

3. The text discusses different ways epidemiologists try to understand the way diseases
spread. Based on the text, what do you think an epidemiologist would say about the
spread of coronavirus?