Outbreak Atlas

Rebecca Katz is a Professor and Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security, and holds joint appointments in Georgetown University Medical Center and the School of Foreign Service. From 2004 to 2019, Dr. Katz was a consultant to the Department of State, working on issues related to the Biological Weapons Convention, pandemic influenza and disease surveillance. She returned to the Department of State in January 2021 as a senior advisor on the global COVID-19 response and global health security.Mackenzie Moore is a research associate and previously served as a Global Health Initiative Fellow at the Center for Global Health Science & Security.

• Case Study ListAbout the AuthorsList of IllustrationsIntroductionUser's GuideEpidemiology: Who, what, when, where, why, and how?Risk: Should we be worried? And who and what should we be worried about?Laboratories and Lab Analysis: Getting to Know the PathogenCommunity Engagement and Humanitarian Response: How Can We Help?Outbreak Data: Collecting, Managing, and Sharing Disease DataCommunicating with the Public: Spread knowledge, not Disease!Declarations and Notifications: Announcing your OutbreakStaffing and Training: Meet the People behind Outbreak ResponseDisease Prevention and Mitigation: Stop the SpreadTreating Patients: Taking Care of IllnessSecurity: Keeping the PeaceMoney: Finding it, Giving it Out, and Keeping the Economy from CollapsingGovernance: Who is in Charge and How?Animal Health and Safety: Tackling Zoonotic OutbreaksEmergency Operations and Logistics: Mobilizing People, Supplies, and EquipmentWrapping Up: Learning from the Past to Prepare for the FutureGlossary

“The COVID-19 pandemic shed a spotlight on how inaccessible and downright confusing public health terminology can be to the general public, sowing distrust. It’s why this book is so timely, taking the reader through a living history of past and current outbreaks and the reasons why certain actions were taken to curb the spread of pathogens. There is no jargon here—the focus is on building a common understanding of how outbreaks accelerate and measures required to stop them. We live in an era of epidemics and pandemics—this is required reading for us all."—Dr. Vin Gupta, NBC News medical analyst“This is the book we have been waiting for. I have looked for books that combine the technical with all of the other real-life scenarios that we face in order to make decisions. From legal to logistical to environmental, all of these are considerations that you need to weigh when making decisions on what to do. An epidemic curve or a map of the distribution of cases is necessary but never enough. This excellent book brings it all together.” —Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the World Health Organization’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence"I have spent more than 50 years responding to or trying to prevent infectious disease outbreaks. One of the most astonishing things I learned is that without public will and public understanding, the top scientists can do very little. It is critical to bridge the gap of understanding between science and the general public, and this book captures the complexity of outbreaks in a way that can be understood by all. To the experienced pandemic warrior, it provides a 'refresher' course; to the student, it provides an all encompassing one-stop-shop resource; to the novice or the simply curious, a backstage look at 'what it takes.' And to all, a source of immeasurable gratitude for the men and women who bravely fight the battles on our behalf."—Dr. Larry Brilliant, Founder and CEO of Pandefense Advisory"The Outbreak Atlas is a primer for lay epidemiologists and professionals alike. Dr. Rebecca Katz and Mackenzie S. Moore dig deep into the intricacies of outbreak management, offering transparency into the process. This compendium of epidemiological case investigations is an instant classic. Designed as a field guide for epidemiologists, it also provides a quick way to get public officials and the public up to speed. From understanding the basics of epidemiology to mastering the art of public communication during crises, this guide is indispensable. Dive in to be prepared for the next outbreak." —Dr. CÉline Gounder​, Editor-at-Large for Public Health at KFF Health News and CBS News Medical Contributor