7.7 Procedure for Recognizing an Outbreak

Alerts from healthcare providers or citizens are the most widely accepted method for detecting outbreaks. Local HPTs provide an acute response, and the acute response desk responds to calls.

Nurses and practitioners in health protection are responsible for receiving notifications about potential incidents or outbreaks, interpreting, prioritizing, and acting on them.

When an outbreak is reported, the following information is collected:

• The person who reported the outbreak
• The geographic location and surroundings
• The presumed outbreak’s characteristics
• The people directly impacted by the outbreak
• The population at risk of exposure.