Quick Learn Lessons
These Quick Learn lessons are intended for learners without an epidemiology background or those looking to refresh their skills. Lessons below help learners develop fundamental knowledge and skills in epidemiology.
Create an Epi Curve
Learn how to create an epi curve from a line list.
Determine the Mode of Spread from an Epi Curve Coming Soon
Learn how to determine the outbreak's likely mode of spread by analyzing an epi curve.
Determine the Likely Period of Exposure from an Epi Curve Coming Soon
Interpret an epi curve and determine the likely period of exposure that led to the outbreak.
Create an Epi Curve
What is an Epi Curve?
An epi curve is a visual display of the onset of illness among cases associated with an outbreak.
You can learn a lot about an outbreak from an epi curve, such as
- The outbreak’s time trend, that is, the distribution of cases over time
- Outliers, that is, cases that stand apart from the overall pattern
- General sense of the outbreak’s magnitude
- Inferences about the outbreak’s pattern of spread
- The most likely time period of exposure
