Verification and Preparation
Establish the existence of an outbreak: IT systems such as electronic health records (EHRs), and real-time dashboards help detect unusual rises in case numbers, triggering early warnings for potential outbreaks.
Verify the diagnosis: Digital Laboratory Systems, and teleconsultation facilitate rapid confirmation of the pathogen.
Prepare for field work: Mobile data collection apps, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) assist in mapping affected areas, organizing field teams, and planning logistics efficiently.
Describe the Outbreak
Construct a working case definition: Shared online documents and digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams) ensure clear understanding and updates of case definitions across all team members.
Find cases systematically and record information: Integration of digital data collection tools, mobile survey systems (e.g., ODK, KoBoToolbox), and EMRs enables efficient case finding, and data entry.
Perform descriptive epidemiology: Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., R, Epi Info, Power BI) generate epidemic curves, distribution maps, and summary of statistics, helping investigators describe the outbreak in terms of time, place, and person.
Hypothesis and Testing
Develop hypotheses: Data mining, statistical analysis, and machine learning tools (e.g., R, Python) help identify patterns of exposure and potential sources, leading to the formulation of preliminary hypotheses.
Conduct analytical studies to test hypotheses: Analytical software such as SPSS, Stata, and R allows investigators to compare data between affected and unaffected groups, testing associations statistically to validate hypotheses.
Conduct special studies (e.g., environmental or laboratory): Environmental monitoring systems, and bioinformatics tools link environmental and genetic data to understand the source, mode, and spread of the pathogen.
Response and Action
Implement control measures and follow-up: IT facilitates communication of interventions through mobile alerts, supports contact tracing through digital tracking systems, and monitors the effectiveness of control measures using real-time dashboards.
Communicate findings and prepare reports: Digital reporting platforms, online dashboards, and visualization tools enable timely dissemination of findings to policymakers, health professionals, and the public, ensuring transparency and coordinated response.
