Classroom Overview
Botulism in Argentina
Download this Classroom Case Study
English and Spanish
Case Study Description in Spanish
Target Audience
Public health practitioners with knowledge of basic epidemiologic concepts and experience in data collection and analysis
Learning Objectives
After completing this case study, the student should be able to:
- Describe outbreak situations in which acute control measures should be undertaken.
- Communicate information on an outbreak or outbreak investigation and write a press release.
- Given the leading hypothesis(es) in an outbreak, develop a questionnaire.
- Given details on the origin, distribution, and preparation of an implicated food item, identify critical points for the control of contamination and microbial survival and growth.
- Discuss possible barriers to implementation of specific interventions following an outbreak investigation.
- Describe measures that can be used to monitor the success of an intervention.
- Describe the occurrence, signs and symptoms, and control of foodborne botulism.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of training in descriptive epidemiology, epidemic curves, measures of association, stratified analysis, study design, and outbreak investigation
Language
English and Spanish
Level
Intermediate
Time
3 to 4 hours
Continuing Education
Continuing education credits are not available for completing this case study.
Developed By
Jeanette K. Stehr-Green, MD developed this case study in close collaboration with staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- National Center for Infectious Diseases (Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases/Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch and Food Safety Office)
- Epidemiology Program Office (Division of International Health)
- Public Health Practice Program Office (Division of Professional Development and Evaluation)
The following individuals investigated the original outbreak of botulism in Argentina: Rodrigo G. Villar, Roger L. Shapiro, Silvina Busto, Clara Rive-Posse, Guadalupe Verdejo, Maria Isabel Farace, Francisco Rosetti, Jorge A. San Juan, Carlos Maria Julia, John Becher, Susan E. Maslanka, and David Swerdlow.
Translation
Translation to Spanish for the student and instructor versions was provided by: Martha Velandia, Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Colombia and Alex Alvarez, CDC en Español.