Does this pathogen infect only humans, or humans and animals?

Public Health by Geoffrey

Module 9.2 Assignment – Think like a Pathogen

 

In this module you have been introduced to the essential functions of outbreak response. To effectively respond to an outbreak, though, it is important to explore what makes an infectious disease successful in spreading to the point of an outbreak. This brings us to the heart of the module 9.2 assignment: think like a pathogen.

 

For this assignment, you will be using one of two free smartphone apps: Plague, Inc., or Infection Bio War. The premise of both apps is the same – start an outbreak, infect as many people as you can, and ultimately wipe out the population. iPhone and Android users can choose from either application while only Plague, Inc. is available on Google phones.

 

Step 1: Download your respective application from your phone’s app store

 

Step 2: Play around with it, get familiar with the settings, and get creative!

 

Step 3: Document your experience with three different pathogens of your choice and for each pathogen, respond to the following question prompts below.

 

 

For each pathogen, respond to the following questions in the table on the next page.

 

  1. What pathogen did you choose for this simulation?
  2. Provide a brief overview of the pathogen
  • Does this pathogen infect only humans, or humans and animals?
  • What is the reservoir for this pathogen?
  • How is this pathogen transmitted?

 

  1. What strategies did you use to increase transmission? Refer to the specific prompts below when describing your observations.
  • What worked and what did not?
  • What happens is you start your outbreak with mild symptoms vs. severe symptoms in terms of transmission? Which options lead to more rapid transmission? Why do you think this happened?
  • What happens if you start your outbreak in a country with a large population vs. a country with a smaller population or in a location that is more difficult to access? Were you able to infect all countries, or were some more difficult to get to? Why?

 

  1. Based on what you observed, if you were a public health professional tasked with controlling this outbreak, what strategies would you employ to interrupt transmission and why? Please list and explain your rationale for three control or mitigation strategies.

 

 

 

  Pathogen 1:                         Pathogen 2: Pathogen 3:
1.   Overview of the pathogen      
2.   Who does it infect?      
3.   Reservoir      
4.   Transmission      
5.   Strategies to increase transmission      
6.   Strategies to disrupt transmission