Techniques of reporting disease outbreak investigations

Effective communication of results and recommendations among veterinarians and between veterinarians and clients is an essential but often neglected component of an outbreak investigation. Although results have been traditionally related verbally, written reports are essential to minimize possible misunderstandings and provide a reference base for future herd health visits or epidemiologic investigations. A uniform reporting scheme for disease investigations by field veterinarians does not exist, but such a system would be desirable to allow comparisons of disease rates and productivity data among herds. In this article, a report format and style is outlined to facilitate exchange of data among veterinarians and clients. Reports to other veterinarians should include the following elements: history, objectives, methodology, results, causes/hypotheses, financial impact, and recommendations. For a client, a report should emphasize causes, recommendations, and the cost of measures to control the condition. Report planning, writing, and editing are facilitated by use of word-processing software on a microcomputer. Style will vary considerably according to the writer's objectives and individual preference, but headings, subheadings, graphs, and tables can be used to increase the visual appeal and readability of a report. The level of technicality should be appropriate for the audience. Sentences should be well constructed and precise.