Public Health Epidemiology and Outbreak Analytics Training Course

Participants can calculate and interpret core measures of disease occurrence and association.

• Attack rates calculated for common-source and propagated outbreaks
• Risk ratios and rate ratios compared between exposed groups
• Odds ratios interpreted from case-control study results
• Risk difference and attributable fraction used for prevention priorities
• Confidence intervals assessed for precision and statistical uncertainty
• Standardised rates compared when population structures differ materially

Participants can design surveillance processes that detect and report priority health events.

• Indicator-based and event-based surveillance compared for different hazards
• Passive, active and sentinel surveillance matched to reporting needs
• Signal detection thresholds established using baseline disease patterns
• Notifiable disease reporting flows mapped from facility to national level
• Weekly epidemiological reports structured for operational decision-making
• International Health Regulations notification criteria applied to significant events

Participants can evaluate surveillance data quality and recommend practical system improvements.

• Completeness, timeliness and validity assessed using routine reporting extracts
• Sensitivity and positive predictive value interpreted for surveillance systems
• Representativeness examined by geography, population and reporting source
• Duplicate records, missing values and inconsistent codes identified systematically
• Data quality checks embedded within line list management procedures
• Evaluation findings converted into prioritised surveillance improvement actions

Participants can construct operational case definitions and organise systematic case finding.

• Suspected, probable and confirmed cases defined using agreed criteria
• Clinical, laboratory, epidemiological and time criteria combined appropriately
• Case definition revisions documented as evidence changes during investigation
• Active case finding planned through facilities, laboratories and communities
• Contact tracing lists structured for follow-up and exposure assessment
• Case classification decisions recorded with supporting evidence and dates

Participants can create an analysable line list and describe an outbreak by person, place and time.

• Line list variables selected for clinical, exposure and outcome analysis
• Unique identifiers assigned while protecting personally identifiable information
• Data dictionaries specify fields, codes, formats and allowable values
• Frequency tables reveal demographic, clinical and exposure distributions
• Stratified summaries identify affected groups requiring targeted action
• Descriptive findings translated into initial outbreak hypotheses

Participants can construct epidemic curves and infer likely exposure and transmission patterns.

• Onset dates cleaned before constructing an epidemic curve
• Histogram intervals selected according to incubation period and event duration
• Point-source, continuous-source and propagated patterns distinguished visually
• Outliers and secondary peaks investigated using case-level evidence
• Incubation periods used to estimate plausible exposure windows
• Epidemic curve annotations document interventions, events and reporting changes

Participants can organise an outbreak investigation from verification through response review.

• Outbreak existence verified against expected baseline disease occurrence
• Diagnosis confirmation coordinated with clinicians and laboratory personnel
• Investigation objectives agreed with incident management leadership
• Roles assigned through an outbreak investigation team structure
• Hypothesis generation draws on interviews, observations and exposure histories
• Control measures initiated before analytic confirmation when immediate risks exist

Participants can select and design an analytic study to test outbreak hypotheses.

• Retrospective cohort studies selected for defined exposed populations
• Case-control studies designed when population denominators remain unavailable
• Controls selected using source population and exposure opportunity principles
• Exposure questionnaires align with plausible transmission pathways
• Sample size considerations balance precision, feasibility and outbreak urgency
• Study protocols state objectives, eligibility, variables and analysis methods

Participants can identify common sources of error and qualify analytic conclusions appropriately.

• Selection bias assessed in case ascertainment and control recruitment
• Recall bias anticipated when exposure histories rely on interviews
• Misclassification reduced through consistent case and exposure definitions
• Confounding examined using stratification and causal reasoning
• Effect modification identified when associations differ between population groups
• Causal conclusions calibrated to evidence quality and alternative explanations

Participants can interpret regression outputs for adjusted outbreak and surveillance analyses.

• Logistic regression models binary outcomes and adjusted odds ratios
• Poisson regression estimates incidence rate ratios from count data
• Model variables selected using causal assumptions and available evidence
• Adjusted estimates compared with crude associations and confidence intervals
• Interaction terms tested where effects plausibly differ by subgroup
• Regression outputs communicated without overstating causal certainty

Participants can assess temporal patterns and identify signals requiring epidemiologic review.

• Seasonality separated from unusual increases in routine disease counts
• Moving averages smooth short-term variation in weekly reporting data
• Historical baselines establish expected counts for comparable reporting periods
• Control charts flag observations beyond expected statistical limits
• Reporting delays distinguished from genuine changes in disease occurrence
• Alert thresholds reviewed after outbreaks, interventions and system changes

Participants can use geographic analysis to identify patterns and target field response.

• Case addresses geocoded while maintaining confidentiality and access controls
• Choropleth maps use population denominators rather than raw case counts
• Spot maps identify clustering around facilities, water points or venues
• Kernel density estimation visualises local concentrations of reported cases
• Spatial patterns interpreted alongside mobility, services and environmental exposures
• Map products include dates, sources, denominators and stated limitations

Participants can integrate laboratory evidence with epidemiologic findings during investigations.

• Specimen collection plans match suspected pathogens and outbreak timelines
• Chain-of-custody records protect specimen integrity and traceability
• Laboratory turnaround times incorporated into investigation decision points
• Culture, PCR and serology results interpreted with clinical context
• Whole-genome sequencing supports cluster assessment and transmission investigation
• Discordant laboratory and epidemiologic evidence triggers structured case review

Participants can translate outbreak evidence into proportionate infection prevention and control measures.

• Transmission-based precautions selected for suspected pathogen and care setting
• Healthcare-associated infection clusters assessed using ward and procedure data
• Environmental cleaning audits linked to outbreak hypotheses and observations
• Staff exposure assessments determine monitoring, testing and work restrictions
• Isolation capacity and patient flow reviewed during respiratory outbreaks
• Control measures monitored using process indicators and case trends

Participants can prioritise response actions using evidence, uncertainty and operational constraints.

• Risk assessment matrices score likelihood, consequence and affected populations
• Vulnerable groups identified through clinical, social and access indicators
• Response options compared for expected impact, feasibility and timeliness
• Incident objectives translated into measurable operational action plans
• Resource requests justified using case burden, projections and service capacity
• Decision logs record evidence, assumptions, approvals and review dates

Participants can prepare clear outbreak communications for operational and public audiences.

• Situation reports separate verified facts, interpretations and pending information
• Key messages address risk, protective actions and service access
• Audience segmentation distinguishes public, clinical, media and leadership needs
• Rumour tracking identifies misinformation requiring timely clarification
• Uncertainty communicated using transparent language and planned update points
• Briefing notes present decisions required, options and recommended actions

Participants can manage outbreak data and interventions with appropriate ethical safeguards.

• Public health surveillance distinguished from research ethics review requirements
• Data minimisation limits collection to necessary investigation variables
• Role-based access controls protect sensitive case and contact information
• Equity impacts assessed before applying restrictive public health measures
• Community engagement informs acceptable case finding and intervention approaches
• Data sharing agreements define purpose, retention, access and accountability

Participants can convert outbreak experience into preparedness actions and measurable improvements.

• Preparedness plans define triggers, roles, supplies and communication channels
• Tabletop scenarios test reporting, laboratory and command arrangements
• After-action reviews distinguish observations, root causes and improvement actions
• Corrective action plans assign owners, deadlines and verification measures
• Surge capacity assessed for staffing, laboratory and information management
• Lessons learned integrated into standard operating procedures and training

Participants can build, review and present a complete outbreak investigation and response portfolio for a simulated public health incident.

• Incident scenario evidence assembled into a verified outbreak investigation file
• Case definition, line list and descriptive analysis prepared for review
• Epidemic curve, association measures and maps tested against hypotheses
• Analytic study findings translated into proportionate control recommendations
• Situation report and leadership briefing communicate uncertainty and decisions
• Peer review tests methods, assumptions, ethics and response feasibility