COMMUNITY MEDICINE

CBL-EPIDEMIC INVESTIGATION
16th ,18th ,30th March &1st April , 2021
(Tuesday/ Thursday)

Epidemiologists often consider the term outbreak to be synonymous to epidemic. Whenever

there is significant shift in existing balance between agent, host and environment, epidemic
occurs. Emergencies caused by epidemic remain one of the most important challenges to
national health administrations.
Learning Objectives:-
Students shall be able to learn:
a. Definition, types and purpose of Epidemic investigation.
b. What are different epidemic types, how to investigate them?
c. When to say that an epidemic has occurred and when to declare that an epidemic has
ended?
d. Stepwise epidemiological investigation of any epidemic
e. How to write epidemiological report?
Pre reading

● Preventive and Social Medicine by JE Park 24th Edition, Chapter 3

● Public Health and Community Medicine by Ilyas Ansari, 8th edition, Chapter 4

Note: Questions will be asked from whole content covered before CBL
Case Scenari
Many students of a Rawalpindi hostel reported with flu like illness after December winter break
last year. It was found that most of them had spent their holidays in Lahore and they all reported
that they were exposed there to smog during their stay. The roommates and friends of these
Lahorites students also developed the same illness. They reported to nearby healthcare officer
with symptoms of common cold like scratchy throat, cough and runny nose. Few reported mild
grade fever and malaise. In very few cases, they developed shortness of breath with high grade
fever. All of them were given initial management and advised to take precautions. Most of them
recovered in a week. However, few cases keep on emerging till the first week of February.
Students with no history of exposure to such cases or visit to such smoggy place, remained well
throughout the winter season.
Tasks:
a. Identify the type of epidemic.
b. Write stepwise epidemiological investigation.