December 26, 2013

CDC App Lets Users Play the Role of Disease Detective

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced updates to its free iPad application, Solve the Outbreak, which puts users “in the shoes of a member of the Epidemic Intelligence Service.”  According to the CDC:
Whether you're a teen considering a career in the sciences, a teacher looking for a great new way to show epidemiology at work, or a germ nerd of any age, Solve the Outbreak is a fascinating peek into the work that real-life Disease Detectives do every day to keep us safe.


The app, which has more than 31,000 downloads, includes 12 outbreaks.  To advance through the game (and earn a Disease Detective badge), users must determine the cause of the outbreak and prevent it from spreading.