Research plan for the study of an outbreak of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever in Montreal, Canada

An outbreak is an increase in the number of confirmed instances of a disease or ailment over a specified time period among a particular sample compared to the predicted numbers. The definition of an epidemic and an outbreak are frequently very similar. As a result, the terms epidemic and outbreak are sometimes used synonymously. This study attempts to look into a possible Marburg hemorrhagic disease outbreak in Canada. The study will concentrate on reports from people who have fever and diarrhea and who visit three medical clinics in Montreal, Canada. In total, the study will involve nine cases of patients with reported fever and diarrhea that can be linked to Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

The reason behind this research is to prevent additional cases. Reingold (21) contends that Outbreak investigation is an essential but challenging component of public health and epidemiology, it can assist in identifying the cause of an outbreak and stop additional cases. But there are several other reasons why this research is important. Notably, this research is significant in identifying the new pathogens that affect the people who are already affected by the outbreak (Taylor et al. 1671). Moreover, this research has the potential to provide new insight into Marburg Hemorrhagic fever. Sherry et al. (1397) note that the investigation can lead to public strategies important in controlling the outbreak, including prohibiting free movement of individuals affected by the outbreak. Finally, the research can provide opportunities for the health practitioners to improve the method and process of epidemiologic investigations that are important in protecting the public. Reingold adds that even when it is over, an environmental and epidemiologic investigation can help increase knowledge on a given disease. Besides, outbreak investigation can be used as a ground for epidemiologic training and fostering of cooperation between the public health and clinical communities.

Research Hypothesis

There is an outbreak of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever in Montreal, Canada.

Research Objectives

To investigate the potential outbreak of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever in Montreal, Canada.

Specific objectives

a) To understand the epidemiological structure of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

b) To demonstrate why it is important to investigate an outbreak like Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

c) To understand the signs and symptoms of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

d) To understand the effects of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

e) To understand how Marburg Hemorrhagic fever can be contained and treated.

f) List several ways which Marburg Hemorrhagic fever can be detected.

g) To understand the process of outbreak investigation and some of the factors that can be used to determine the existence of an outbreak.

h) To come up with policy measures for preventing and treating Marburg Hemorrhagic fever.

Methodology

The study will begin with the tabulation and orientation of the data from the nine case studies. The research will organize the collected data from the records of the nine patients and summarize the information based on the individual medical history and place. The study will look at all the cases one by one and note down all the infections per each case. The social contact history of the patients will be taken into consideration. Specifically, the study will pay much attention on how Marburg Hemorrhagic fever is spread. As demonstrated by Hennekinne, Jacques-Antoine, Marie-Laure De Buyser, and Sylviane Dragacci (2012), all the affected people will be submitted to various epidemiologic tests to establish whether the fever and diarrhea are due to Marburg Hemorrhagic fever and whether the affected contracted it after coming in contact with the patient. A research hypothesis will be developed to aid the study, and additional insight on the outbreak will be obtained through interviewing of the case-patients. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis will be used for triangulation (Greig and Ravel 77-87).

Expected outcome

A direct connection between the nine cases and Marburg Hemorrhagic fever is expected. The research expects to find out that a person can contract Marburg Hemorrhagic fever by getting in contact with an infected person. Above all, there is an outbreak of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever in Canada, and the situations need immediate attention. The disease has reached a level that can be described as an epidemic given by the number of individuals who have fallen victims from a single individual as evidenced in the nine cases.

Conclusion

No major challenges are expected when carrying out the research; everything is expected to go on smoothly as planned. At the conclusion of the research, it will be necessary and appropriate for the team to come up with public health promotional messages that can be used to contain the spread of Marburg Hemorrhagic fever. It is important for the team to agree on what information to release to the public because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Timeline

The study is expected to take a maximum of three weeks with each hospital allocated one week and the seven days of the week will be divided based on cases. As an example, for Saint-Luc Hospital with three cases, each case will be allocated a maximum of two days. Another one week will be needed for analysis, Conclusion, and presentation of the findings.

Week one: Cases from Saint-Luc Hospital.

Week two: Cases from Victoria Hospital.

Week three: Cases from Montreal Jewish Hospital.

Week four: Analysis, conclusion, and presentation.



Works Cited

Greig, J. D., and A. Ravel. "Analysis of foodborne outbreak data reported internationally for source attribution." International journal of food microbiology 130.2 (2009): 77-87.

Hennekinne, Jacques-Antoine, Marie-Laure De Buyser, and Sylviane Dragacci. "Staphylococcus aureus and its food poisoning toxins: characterization and outbreak investigation." FEMS microbiology reviews 36.4 (2012): 815-836.

Reingold, Arthur L. "Outbreak investigations--a perspective." Emerging infectious diseases 4.1 (1998): 21.

Sherry, Norelle L., et al. "Outbreak investigation using high-throughput genome sequencing within a diagnostic microbiology laboratory." Journal of clinical microbiology 51.5 (2013): 1396-1401.

Taylor, Marsha, et al. "Outbreak of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning associated with mussels, British Columbia, Canada." Marine drugs 11.5 (2013): 1669-1676.