Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 135, Issue 03  


Review Article

Discernment between deliberate and natural infectious disease outbreaks 1

Z. F. DEMBEK a1c1, M. G. KORTEPETER a2 and J. A. PAVLIN a3
a1 Department of Medicine, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
a2 Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., USA
a3 Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

Article author query
dembek zf   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
kortepeter mg   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
pavlin ja   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Public health authorities should be vigilant to the potential for outbreaks deliberately caused by biological agents (bioterrorism). Such events require a rapid response and incorporation of non-traditional partners for disease investigation and outbreak control. The astute application of infectious disease epidemiological principles can promote an enhanced index of suspicion for such events. We discuss epidemiological indicators that should be considered during outbreak investigations, and also examine their application during bioterrorism incidents, an accidental release of an agent, outbreaks of infections that were alleged to have been deliberately initiated, and a model scenario. The Grunow & Finke epidemiological assessment tool is used to examine these historical events and the model scenario. The results received from this analysis, coupled with an understanding of epidemiological clues to unnatural events, and knowledge of how to manage such events, can aid in the improved response and resolution of epidemics.

(Accepted May 24 2006)
(Published Online August 8 2006)


Correspondence:
c1 Department of Medicine, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA. (Email: zygmunt.dembek@amedd.army.mil or epibiochem@msn.com)

Footnotes

1 The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.


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