Notice to Readers: Release of Computer-Based Case Study: “Salmonella in the Caribbean” FREE

MMWR. 2008;57:580

A new computer-based case study, “Salmonella in the Caribbean,” is now available from CDC. This self-instructional, interactive exercise is based on an outbreak investigation conducted in Trinidad and Tobago. The study teaches public health practitioners skills in outbreak investigation and allows them to apply and practice those skills. The study also focuses on the role of surveillance in identifying and characterizing public health problems, developing hypotheses about the problems, and monitoring the effectiveness of control measures.

“Salmonella in the Caribbean” is the fourth and final case study in the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Investigation Case Study Series. The Foodborne Disease Outbreak Investigation series was created for students familiar with basic epidemiologic and public health concepts. Each case study was developed in collaboration with the original investigators and experts from CDC, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Other case studies in the series include “Botulism in Argentina” (released 2002), “E. coli O157:H7 Infection in Michigan” (released 2004), and “Gastroenteritis at a University in Texas” (released 2005). The curriculum provided by these four case studies covers a wide range of outbreak investigation topics. Because these case studies are self-instructional, students can complete them at their own pace and convenience. Students can select which case study activities to undertake and focus on areas most relevant to their learning needs and goals. The computer-based case studies also can be used in the classroom as group exercises, assigned as homework, or given as tests to reinforce concepts covered in class.

All four case studies can be downloaded at no cost from CDC's Epidemiologic Case Studies website at http://www.cdc.gov/epicasestudies. They also can be purchased from the Public Health Foundation at 1-877-252-1200 or http://bookstore.phf.org. Additionally, students can receive continuing education credits (e.g., CEUs, CMEs, CNEs, CHES, and AAVSB-RACE) for completing selected case studies.