Calculating Incidence Rate in a Gastroenteritis Outbreak

QUESTION

Active case finding and surveillance began after the department of health identified the E. coli positive well water sample on July 19. A case of gastroenteritis is defined as an illness lasting for more than 24 hours that includes three or more episodes of diarrhea, vomiting, or both. The attack had to occur in a camper or staff member after arriving or leaving the camp during the period from June 1 through July 19. The health department obtained lists of camp attendees and staff from camp managers, and conducted a retrospective cohort study by administering a telephone questionnaire to 210 out of 277 (76 percent) of individuals. The study identified 141 cases (67 percent). 102 people reported diarrhea (72 percent), 92 reported vomiting (65 percent), and 89 reported stomach cramps (63 percent).

 

  1. What was the incidence rate among those interviewed? (Use the following formula: total number of cases divided by the total population eligible.)

ANSWER

Calculating Incidence Rate in a Gastroenteritis Outbreak

Introduction

In public health investigations, calculating the incidence rate is a crucial step to assess the extent of an outbreak and understand the risk factors associated with it. In this essay, we will calculate the incidence rate among individuals interviewed in a retrospective cohort study conducted during a gastroenteritis outbreak at a camp.

Calculation of Incidence Rate

To calculate the incidence rate among those interviewed, we can use the following formula:

\[ \text{Incidence Rate (IR)} = \frac{\text{Total Number of Cases}}{\text{Total Population Eligible for the Study}} \times 1000 \]

In this case, we have the following information:

Total number of cases (individuals with gastroenteritis): 141
Total population eligible for the study (individuals interviewed): 210

Now, let’s calculate the incidence rate:

\[ IR = \frac{141}{210} \times 1000 = 67.14 \text{ cases per 1000 individuals} \]

The incidence rate among those interviewed is approximately 67.14 cases per 1000 individuals.

Conclusion

Calculating the incidence rate is a fundamental step in understanding the impact of a disease outbreak. In this retrospective cohort study conducted during a gastroenteritis outbreak at a camp, the calculated incidence rate among those interviewed provides valuable information about the prevalence of the illness within the studied population. This rate serves as a critical metric for public health officials to assess the outbreak’s magnitude and guide further investigations and interventions.

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 Customer support
On-demand options
  • Tutor’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Attractive discounts
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Unique Features

As a renowned provider of the best writing services, we have selected unique features which we offer to our customers as their guarantees that will make your user experience stress-free.

Money-Back Guarantee

Unlike other companies, our money-back guarantee ensures the safety of our customers' money. For whatever reason, the customer may request a refund; our support team assesses the ground on which the refund is requested and processes it instantly. However, our customers are lucky as they have the least chances to experience this as we are always prepared to serve you with the best.

Zero-Plagiarism Guarantee

Plagiarism is the worst academic offense that is highly punishable by all educational institutions. It's for this reason that Peachy Tutors does not condone any plagiarism. We use advanced plagiarism detection software that ensures there are no chances of similarity on your papers.

Free-Revision Policy

Sometimes your professor may be a little bit stubborn and needs some changes made on your paper, or you might need some customization done. All at your service, we will work on your revision till you are satisfied with the quality of work. All for Free!

Privacy And Confidentiality

We take our client's confidentiality as our highest priority; thus, we never share our client's information with third parties. Our company uses the standard encryption technology to store data and only uses trusted payment gateways.

High Quality Papers

Anytime you order your paper with us, be assured of the paper quality. Our tutors are highly skilled in researching and writing quality content that is relevant to the paper instructions and presented professionally. This makes us the best in the industry as our tutors can handle any type of paper despite its complexity.