Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer Outbreak Investigations

Related Pages

Outbreak investigations result from requests for epidemiological assistance within the United States and throughout the world. Requests to assist with emergency responses, investigate infectious and environmental disease outbreaks, and quantify impact of diseases are examples of these responses. Sometimes these requests come in the form of an “Epi-Aid,” which is a mechanism CDC uses for public health authorities to request short-term epidemiologic assistance.

Our global investigations are conducted in collaboration with international partners, such as ministries of health and the World Health Organization, as well as CDC’s Global Health Protection and Security program.

The investigations below were conducted by the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch’s Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers. The investigations that resulted from an official Epi-Aid request include the Epi-Aid number—the way all Epi-Aids are tracked by CDC. When available, investigations also include articles and information published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and on CDC web pages.

CDC team cheering the arrival of chlorinated water during a cholera outbreak after a day of finding only empty tanks.

CDC team cheering the arrival of chlorinated water during a cholera outbreak after a day of finding only empty tanks.

Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch Outbreak Investigations

Drs. Bill Davis (EISO, WDPB) and Grace Appiah (Epidemiologist, WDPB), reviewing surveillance data with a colleague from the Ministry of Health.
Drs. Bill Davis (EISO, WDPB) and Grace Appiah (Epidemiologist, WDPB), reviewing surveillance data with a colleague from the Ministry of Health.
  • Outbreak of typhoid fever – Zimbabwe, January - February 2018
  • Outbreak of cholera – Zimbabwe, January - February 2018
Dr. Paul McClung (EISO, WDPB) is sampling well water during the norovirus outbreak among festival attendees at a camp in PA.
Dr. Paul McClung (EISO, WDPB) is sampling well water during the norovirus outbreak among festival attendees at a camp in PA.
  • Outbreak of norovirus among festival attendees at a camp – PA, July 2017
  • Outbreak of waterborne disease after Hurricanes Irma and Maria – US Virgin Islands, November 2017
  • Outbreak of typhoid fever - Zimbabwe, January - March 2017
  • Outbreak of cholera – Zambia, December 2017 - January 2018
Katie Curran (EISO, WDPB) interviews a patient admitted in a Cholera Treatment Center in Dar es Salaam, during the 2015 – 2016 Tanzania cholera outbreak.
Katie Curran (EISO, WDPB) interviews a patient admitted in a Cholera Treatment Center in Dar es Salaam, during the 2015 – 2016 Tanzania cholera outbreak.
  • Outbreak of cholera – Tanzania, September 2015 – January 2016
  • Outbreak of cholera – Ethiopia, 2016
  • Community-wide outbreak of shigellosis – Michigan, October 2016
  • Outbreak of typhoid fever – Zimbabwe, 2016
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer Dr. Katharine Benedict (CDC; EIS 2015) assists with Ebola prevention efforts in Sierra Leone, 2015.
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer Dr. Katharine Benedict (CDC; EIS 2015) assists with Ebola prevention efforts in Sierra Leone, 2015.
  • Outbreak of cholera – Tanzania
    • October – December 2015
  • Cholera preparedness in the wake of severe flooding – Sierra Leone
    • October 2015
  • Outbreak of cholera – Kenya
    • June – August 2015 (Epi-Aid 2015-028)
  • Outbreak of Ebola virus disease – West Africa (Sierra Leone and Mali)
    • January – February 2015
    • August – September 2015
Dr. Rupa Narra (CDC; EIS 2014) teaches local healthcare workers basic Ebola infection control and prevention measures in a small border health post in Guinea, 2014.
Dr. Rupa Narra (CDC; EIS 2014) teaches local healthcare workers basic Ebola infection control and prevention measures in a small border health post in Guinea, 2014.
  • Ebola virus disease preparedness training – Cameroon, The Gambia
    • November – December 2014
  • Ebola virus disease preparedness training – Alabama
  • Outbreak of Ebola virus disease – West Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Mali)
    • July – December 2014
  • Outbreak of diarrheal disease of unknown etiology – American Samoa
    • June 2014 (Epi-Aid 2014-055)
Dr. Julia Painter (CDC; EIS 2013) and Michael Gronostaj (CDC; PMR 2013) with a team investigating a cryptosporiodiosis outbreak in Oregon, 2013
Dr. Julia Painter (CDC; EIS 2013) and Michael Gronostaj (CDC; PMR 2013) with a team investigating a cryptosporiodiosis outbreak in Oregon, 2013.
  • Public health response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
    • December 2013 (Epi-Aid 2014-024)
  • Cryptosporidiosis outbreak, Oregon
    • August 2013 (Epi-Aid 2013-072)

Page last reviewed: April 10, 2018
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)