A married couple struggles to cope with the loss of their son and the discovery of an invisible epidemic. With unprecedented access to key global decision-makers and health responders, this FRONTLINE documentary exposes the tragic missteps that allowed the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak to spread unchecked across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
A disease outbreak can be identified when multiple people report symptoms that are similar and are attributed to the same common source. During an outbreak investigation, public health experts collect data on confirmed and possible cases using standard methods for descriptive and analytical epidemiology.
Identified agents and foods that may have been associated with illness are traced back through the food supply chain to identify where the contamination occurred. Investigations also identify transmission routes to help prevent future outbreaks and epidemics.
Successful outbreak investigations contribute to the scientific knowledge of infectious diseases. For example, outbreak investigations registered new modes of transmission of E. coli O157:H7 that were not previously known. These include the consumption of unpasteurized milk or apple drinks, swimming in lakes and public pools, and person-to-person transmission (Weber et al., 2001).
In addition to the investigation of suspected cases, public health agencies must establish and implement general control and prevention measures. These measures can be as simple as reviewing credit card receipts for deliveries and tracing names of individuals interviewed to confirm the reported illness. Some states have more complex strategies that are based on surveillance, such as PulseNet, which uses DNA fingerprinting of bacteria to link sick individuals with their restaurants and other sources of food.
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