As the different health professionals in the video tried to determine the cause of the disease, they followed steps in a process. However, investigating a disease outbreak is often complicated. Some steps may not apply or follow an exact order. As is often the case in science, investigators have to be creative and keep at it until they find the answers they are looking for.
When doctors or hospitals report cases of unusual illness, a public health office's first response is to check that the information it receives, including any initial diagnosis, is accurate. To confirm that there really is an outbreak, a team of public health staff may need to collect further information. They may make observations, take samples from the field, and interview patients, their families, and neighbors. The team may also make calls to other hospitals or public health offices to learn if additional cases are being reported.