outbreak investigations ­ methods and importance Disease objectives,

Summary In South Africa approximately 100 disease outbreaks or epidemics requiring investigation and control can be anticipated each year. Outbreak investigations play a critical role in determining effective di~ease control strategies. The application of modern epidemiological methods to the study of disease outbreaks is discussed and problem-solving methodology, which has similarities to the approach used in clinical diagnostics, described. These methods were applied to the investigation of an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at a Johannesburg teaching hospital. S Atr Med J 1988: 73: 334-336.