Career Journal #2: Epidemiologist

Epidemiology: Basic science of public health and it is based on principles

of statistics and research methodologies.
Education and training:
-Masters; Ph.D. (Medical Degree for those interested in research)
-Some experience may be required for higher position jobs.
Salary: $67,420
Duties:
-Research designs
-Written and spoken communications
-Attention to detail
-Critical thinking
-Extensive medical and public health knowledge
-Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors
-Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal diseases and prevent them
-Supervise professional, technical and clerical personnel
-Microsoft Excel
-Scientific Software
What cause Cholera?
-by an infection in the small intestine with the bacterium vibrio cholerae. It causes
the cells lining of the intestine to produce large amounts of fluid.
How is cholera transmitted?
-Cholera bacterium is usually found in water or food sources that have been
contaminated with feces.
What are the symptoms of Cholera?
-Sudden onset of diarrhea
-Diarrhea looks like rice water
-Diarrhea has a fishy odor
-Dehydration
-Rapid heart rate
-Vomiting
What preventive measures have helped eliminate the threat of Cholera in
the United States?

-Boil water before use or drinking it

-Eat only hot, cooked foods and fruits you have peeled yourself
-Avoid undercooked or raw fish
-Make sure all vegetables are cooked
-Avoid salads
-Avoid street vendors
-Do not bring perishable seafood back into the United States
John Snow and the steps he took to investigate the spread of Cholera in
London:
-First step: Patrolled the district and interviewed the families of the victims. This led
him to the street pump on the corner.
-Second step: Snow took a sample of water from the pump and examined it under a
microscope and found white, flocculent particles
-Third step: Snow took his findings to the Board of Guardians of St. Jamess Parish,
although they denied his theory.
-Fourth step: Someone else found the same findings and they were finally published
in The Builder.
Rural Middle School Case Questions:
-Any fevers present?
-Diarrhea?
-How many times have you thrown up in the past hour?
-What have you ate or drank today?
-Any other symptoms?
Evidence you could collect:
-Temperature
-What theyve ate or drank
-How many kids have ate or drank the same thing and became ill.
Food Survey:
Milk: .65
Banana: .64
Cheese Pizza: .17
Chicken Nuggets: .63
Potato Salad: .81
Chocolate Pudding: .64

Ice Cream Sandwich: .61

Potato Salad was the source of the food poisoning because it is a staph
food poisoning and staph lives on our skin. Potato Salad is prepared with
our hands which is made of skin.
An epidemic curve would help to figure out the onset time of the food poisoning.
Smoking and elevated cholesterol levels:
Cohort study:
-Follow a group of smokers and non-smokers around and see how they react to
different things.
Case-Control study:
-Take a group of smokers and non-smokers with the same age, gender, blood
pressure, and heart rate which should all be in a normal range and see how they
react to different environments.