Outbreak Investigation

Epi Ren

You're an epidemiologist at a city health department. One of your many jobs is to investigate outbreaks of different diseases and conditions in the city. To help you with your job, you have the services of the city public health laboratory, several public health nurses, an office assistant, and your handy smartphone. Of course, you can always consult with the city health officer, but she's too busy dealing with the city council today. So you're on your own, kid.
The phone rings. It's a physician from a local pediatric practice. She tells you that she has seen three children today with diarrhea and fever. Two of them have been sent to the local hospital for further treatment. The third was sent home with medication. She is concerned because all three go to the same elementary school, though they are not in the same class. What do you do?
You thank the physician for the report. You'll keep it around in case she sees more sick kids, but it's the first week of school. There's no chance they all could have gotten sick.
You thank the physician for the heads up. You tell her that you will call the school nurse and the hospital to follow-up on these cases. You also ask her to call you if more children come in sick with similar symptoms.