Outbreak investigation is one of the primary and most critical activities in epidemiology. Infectious disease outbreaks always require intense, rapid on-site response and gain front page headlines. Bacterial or viral outbreaks occur quickly, and students and professionals should know how to react. This title uses Field Epidemiology - the application of epidemiology methods for unexpected health problems requiring fast, on-site investigation for timely intervention.
A collection of 19 case studiesNsome never before publishedNthat uncovers the details of actual infectious disease outbreaks from within the U.S. and around the world. Each case study is retold by the investigator who recalls the critical issues considered along the way. Investigators share valuable lessons learned and provide exceptional and unique educational value in each of the chapters.
Dr. Mark S. Dworkin is a medical epidemiologist and is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After receiving his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, he trained in Internal Medicine at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, and in Infectious Diseases at Tulane University Medical Center where he also obtained a Master's Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from the Tulane University School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health in New Orleans. For 2 years he served in the Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service stationed at the Washington State Department of Health, where he investigated many outbreaks including those due to pertussis, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Trichinella, and measles. Dr. Dworkin worked at the CDC in Atlanta for 4 years in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention and performed many epidemiologic analyses related to opportunistic infections. During 2000 to 2006, he was the Illinois Department of Public Health State Epidemiologist in the Division of Infectious Diseases and team leader for the Rapid Response Team (an outbreak investigation team).Currently, heis an Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois-School of Public Health, an attending physician at the HIV outpatient Core Center of the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (formerly Cook County Hospital), provides on-call coverage to a private practice infectious disease group in the Chicago area, and lectures at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Dr. Dworkinhas authored or co-authored many scientific publications on various topics including outbreak investigations, surveillance, HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections, salmonellosis, tick-borne illnesses, and vaccine-preventable infections. Dr. Dworkin was awarded both the Commendation Medal and the Achievement Medal by the United States Public Health Service.