Acknowledgments

4-H, NIFA, USDA Subject Matter Experts and Contributors

Lisa Lauxman, Ph.D. Amy McCune, Ph.D.

USDA-APHIS Subject Matter Experts and Contributors

Tracey Dutcher, DVM Tom Gomez, DVM

Ellen Kasari, DVM

CDC Subject Matter Experts and Contributors

Alicia Budd, MPH Erin Burns, MA

Emily Eisenberg Lobelo, MS Joe Gregg, MA

Dan Jernigan, MD, MPH Michael Jhung, MD, MPH

James Kile, DVM, MPH Lisa Koonin, DrPH, MN, MPH

Josh Mott, Ph.D. Sonja Olsen, Ph.D.

Lexi Sowers, MA Jerry Tokars, MD, MPH

Sue Trock, DVM, MPH Abbey Wojno, Ph.D.

Special thanks to Tolani Francisco, DVM, MPH
Foreword

The following story is a work of fiction, but real public health threats and

diseases are presented. CDC hopes that this story raises youth awareness

of infectious diseases and the public health risks they pose. In addition, CDC 

hopes that this story helps to encourage youth interest in the many different

career paths available in public health at the local, state and federal levels.

Lastly, CDC hopes that this story promotes youth education and interest

in science and public health. We at CDC hope that readers are inspired to become 

the next generation of real life disease detectives and public health superheroes.

This graphic novel is the result of a partnership between the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4-H, and the U.S. Department

of Agriculture (USDA). 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development program.

4-H is a public-private partnership with federal, state, local and non-profit support.

Youth and their families access 4-H programs at a community or county level 

through the cooperative extension division of their land-grant university.

4-H offers a youth development experience for all youth ages 5–19. For more

information, please see https://nifa/usda/gov/program/4-h-positive-youth-development.
Project LEAD: DOUGLAS Jordan, MA

Art TEAM LEAD: James Archer, MSMi

Written by DOUGLAS Jordan, MA

& Victoria Jeisy Scott, PHD

Penciled & Inked by Bob Hobbs, AS

Digital Color by Kristen Immoor, BFA

Lettering & Layout by Mark Conner, BFA

& MereDith Boyter Newlove, MSMi

1
Yes,

Excellent Timing!

I’m Really Looking

forward to It!

oh, I’m playing this cool

centers for disease control and

prevention app that lets you solve 

the source of different outbreaks 

and I’m stumped on this current

outbreak scenario.

oh...

nice, man.

right In time for

our three day trip

to cdc after the

fair for disease

detective

camp.

YEAH!

I CAN’T WAiT!

SO LET’S START THiS 4-H

MEETiNG OFF WiTH A

DiSCUSSiON OF THE CDC CAMP

AS WELL AS WHAT WE ARE

DOiNG FOR THE

COUNTY FAiR.

What are

you doing,

eddie?

2
I have an Idea to make things 

Interesting! let’s each Imagine

that we are facing a major public 

health threat and we are the

heroes. eddie, let’s start with you!

hmm... ok. well, I’m picturing

an outbreak of a new scary

disease that has already Infected 

half of the city’s population!

...and I’M

GERM SLAYER.

the germ-fighting

superhero who

has the cure!

I’m the only

hope to deliver

It on time!

I remain cloaked

to move quickly 

unnoticed ... I can’t 

risk being stopped

or SLOWED DOWN.

Hospitals and clinics are currently

overwhelmed and in some cases people

are actually being turned away...

3
Will I make

It In Time?

City streets are largely deserted with the

exception of locations near medical facilities.

4
And Here I am!

Just In time

to deliver the cure

From the CDC! 

Fun, EDDiE!

...ERR ... I mean

Germ slayer!

I Like It!

Next, It’s your

turn, R.J.

OK,

I’ve got this!

I’m a

medieval archer

and you guys are 

there with me!

5
Hey Guys,

It’s Eddie! Wow...

I’m In a Suit

of Armor. Isn’t this 

supposed to be

Public Health

Related, R.J.?

YEAH...

WHAAAAAT?

Where Are you

going With this?

HANG ON,

GUYS...

I PROMiSE

THiS IS

PUBLiC HEALTH

RELATED.

OH R.J., HA!

THiS IS NERDY,

BUT I LiKE

MY OUTFiT! HA! HA!

OH, BY THE WAY, 

IT’S ME KRiS.

I JUST GOT

TO THE

MEETiNG...

AND WHAT

TiMiNG!

6
Outside, an army of monster germs is attacking...

YOU SEE,

WE REPRESENT

THE BODY’S IMMUNE 

SYSTEM, AND THiS

CASTLE HERE IS THE

HUMAN BODY.

7
Your immune cells are constantly on the 

lookout for invading germs.

When you get an infection, your body 

learns everything it can about the germ

that causes the disease.

Your body’s cells will remember what that 

specific germ looks like.

Every germ is different. To combat this, a special platoon of immune

cells will be trained to have defenses specific to each germ invader.

8
When germs are spotted and recognized

by the immune system, we must leap into 

action to fight the infection!

9
I think you actually

managed to pull off

the public health

angle!

see, I told

you guys

It would make

sense

by the end!

nice entrance.

what’s that

on your face?

sorry I’m late

to the meeting,

I had a baking

accident.

I was practicing

baking a cake to enter 

Into the cake competition

at the fair, but I got

flour all over me!

hey, at least you

made It Into

my public health

vision.

nice,

R.J.!

10
so, I gather this

Is a public health

Imagination exercise?

can I Go NEXT?

OK, GUYS.

I’M ON A

SPACE STATiON...

wow! and we thought

R.J.’s was out there...

11
“The space station is full of people 

infected with an alien virus,

but I am completely unaware.”

“I am just going about 

my business. Little

do I know that

the space station

is contaminated with 

the virus. Just by being 

in the environment,

I’m being exposed

to the virus!”

“If you are in a contaminated

environment and don’t take the

proper precautions,

you can get sick, too.”

“The virus can enter a person’s

eyes, nose or mouth to cause infection.”

“Oh no!

The virus

has gotten

to me.

It’s trying

to infect

me!”

“However, I know that

I’ll be safe because

I have been vaccinated.

Vaccines work by causing 

your immune system

to recognize and fight

against the attacking virus.”

12
OH, WOW! KRiS!

THAT WAS SCARY.

I GUESS BEiNG

COVERED IN FLOUR

GOT YOU THiNKiNG

ABOUT BEiNG

COVERED

IN A ViRUS!

HMM,

MY TURN ALREADY?

LET’S SEE...

OK, I’M PiCTURiNG MYSELF AS A DETECTiVE. 

I’M GOiNG TO TRY AND KEEP IT FOCUSED ON 

PUBLiC HEALTH FROM THE START... UNLiKE

YOU GUYS!... SO LET’S SAY I’M A DiSEASE 

DETECTiVE.

13
HMM.

“There has been an outbreak of foodborne illness. I have been doing some studying prior

to CDC camp, so I know that foodborne illness is caused by consuming contaminated food

or beverages and sometimes it can be spread from person to person.”

“Everyone who has gotten

sick ate at this restaurant!”

“I must look for

clues and find

the evidence that

links all the cases!”

“I find a sample of food

to take back to the lab.”

“Back at the laboratory, I test the 

sample to see if I can determine 

the cause of the outbreak... it’s 

positive for salmonella!”

“Now I need to reach out and see 

who else may have eaten at this 

restaurant, and I need to protect

people who could be at risk.”

14
my beetles

are going

to blow everyone’s

minds at the fair.

I don’t get your

bug and beetle

fascination,

em... It’s kind

of weird.

ok, mr.

medieval archer

germ analogy guy.

that was fun, everyone!

I’m sure we will get

a more realistic

understanding of what

It’s like to be a

disease detective

once we go to cdc

for the field trip.

LATER ON...

NOW, LET’S TALK 

ABOUT THE

COUNTY FAiR.

I’LL PRESENT

MY BUG COLLECTiON.

EDDiE WiLL be

showing HiS PiG.

KRiS IS ENTERED

INTO THE CAKE

BAKiNG

COMPETiTiON,

AND R.J. WiLL

BE EXHiBiTiNG

HiS ChickEN.

ANY QUESTiONS?

15
AT THE THOMAS

COUNTY FAIR...

16
C’MON

HAMLET,

THE JUDGiNG

WiLL BE

STARTiNG

SOON...

CAREFUL ABOUT SUCKiNG

YOUR THUMB BEFORE

WASHiNG YOUR HANDS

WHEN AROUND ANiMALS, DEAR.

THEY MAY CARRY GERMS.

OH YEAH!

NOW THAT’S WHAT

I’M TALKiNG

ABOUT!

YOU’RE LOOKiNG

AT THE OWNER

OF THE BEST CHiCKEN

IN THOMAS COUNTY!

MY PROJECT

IS DEFiNiTELY

WiNNiNG THiS

YEAR!

MOMMY...

LOOK AT THE

CUTE PiG!

AND THE

BEST iN SHOW

GOES TO

ROBERT JACKSON

AND HiS BEST

IN CLASS

ChickEN!

Buk

Buk!

17
FRIDAY NIGHT...

C’MON

HAMLET...

GO TO THE RiGHT.

WHY ARE YOU

SO SLUGGiSH

Lately?

Hi, MOM...

HUH?

WELL, MY CAKE

DOESN’T LOOK

ALL THAT GREAT.

BUT IT DOES

TASTE GOOD!

WELL, EDDiE...

HOW DiD HAMLET

DO TODAY?

OK.

HE WASN’T 100%

BUT I THiNK HE DiD

WELL ENOUGH

TO IMPRESS

THE JUDGES.

I ASKED THE FAiR

VETERiNARiAN TO LOOK AT 

HAMLET, JUST TO MAKE SURE 

HE WAS OK. WHAT CAN I SAY?

I CARE ABOUT THE

BiG FELLA. 

18
SAY, WHAT DO YOU

THiNK ABOUT GRABBiNG 

SOME FOOD?

I’M FEELiNG LiKE

A BURRiTO.

OK, LET’S SEE

IF I HAVE

ANY MONEY.

AH, HERE WE GO!

LET ME GUESS,

I’M PAYiNG FOR YOU, 

TOO!

WOW, DOUBLiNG

UP ON THE

CORN DOGS, HUH?

DOUBLE THE

DELiCiOUSNESS.

YOU KNOW YOU

WiSH YOU HAD

ORDERED

A CORN DOG!

19
I don’t know

about this,

you guys...

hey, you guys

up for the

house of horrors?

you’re not scared,

are you?

n-nothing

to worry

about...

those are

just

actors...

I think...

HA!...

I CAN’T BELiEVE

THOSE TWO

ARE REALLY

SCARED!

Y-YES...

LET’S...

ALL RiGHT,

TiME FOR

BUMPER CARS! 

UFF

cough!

cough!

EEEK!

L-LET’S

GO TRY THE

BUMPER CARS...

OKAY?

MY ASTHMA

IS KiCKiNG IN,

IT MAY BE THE

FOG MACHiNES

IN HERE.

20
WHOA... DUDE!

AWESOME!

I LOVE

BUMPER CARS!

...WOW, I’M REALLY

NOT FEELiNG WELL

YOU GUYS...

HE’LL LiVE.

MORE ROOM FOR

FUNNEL CAKES,

EH MAN?

UGH,

EDDiE IS

THROWiNG UP.

I THiNK IT’S TiME

TO CALL IT A 

NiGHT! EDDiE ...

You OK?

BURRiTOS

AND BUMPER CARS...

PROBABLY NOT A GOOD 

COMBiNATiON.

BlUUgg!

BLAM!

BLAM!

21
FOR THE

LAST TiME...

YOU CAN’T GO WiTH

THiS FEVER!

BUT MOM,

I’LL NEVER GET

ANOTHER CHANCE

TO GO TO THE CDC!

MONDAY MORNING: EDDIE’S HOUSE... 

cough!

SNIFF !

22
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 

PREVENTION HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA...

OK EVERYONE,

ENTER THE ViSiTOR CENTER

THROUGH THAT DOOR...

PLEASE PiCK OUT

YOUR NAME TAG

AND SiGN NEXT TO YOUR

NAME ON THE LiST...

I WiSH EDDiE

COULD’VE COME.

HE WAS REALLY

LOOKiNG FORWARD

TO THiS...

YOU

THiNK

HE’S STiLL

SiCK

FROM

FRiDAY?

23
THiS IS GOiNG

TO BE GREAT!

I WiSH EDDiE

COULD BE HERE

TO EXPERiENCE

THiS... 

BY THE END OF THiS

COURSE, YOU’LL KNOW

ABOUT DiFFERENT KiNDS OF

INFECTiOUS DiSEASES

AND HOW CDC

PROTECTS THE PUBLiC.

...WHiCH STANDS

FOR EPiDEMiC

INTELLiGENCE SERViCE.

WHEN DiSEASE OUTBREAKS

OR OTHER Public Health

THREATS EMERGE, WE ARE

ON THE SCENE.

I along with the 

EIS officers

standing beside 

me, will teach you 

about Infectious 

diseases and how 

to be a disease

detective. Meet 

DRS. Alison, Alex, 

and Kim.

HELLO, I’M DR. LEE.

WELCOME TO THE CDC.

HELLO

EVERYONE, I’M

Dr. ALiSON.

I’M

Dr. ALEX.

AND I’M Dr. KiM.

WE ARE CDC

EIS OFFiCERS...

24
Mom, I feEL

WORSE.

I’M TAKiNG

YOU TO THE

DOCTOR.

I SURE 

HOPE EDDiE 

IS FEELiNG

BETTER.

BACK AT EDDIE’S HOUSE...

WHAT IS

PUBLIC

HEALTH?

CDC FOCUSES ON 

PUBLiC HEALTH,

PROTECTiNG THE HEALTH 

AND SAFETY OF GROUPS 

OF PEOPLE.

NEXT, I’D LiKE 

TO TELL YOU HOW

WE AT CDC FiGHT 

DiSEASE.

PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS

• Community Health

• Focus on Preventing 

 Diseases

• Investigate Diseases 

 in Groups of People

CLINICIANS

• Individual Health

• Focus on Treating 

 Diseases

• Diagnose and Treat

 Disease in One Patient

25
LATER MONDAY AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE...

okay, 

just breathe 

normally 

for me.

It appears you have an upper 

respiratory Infection, even 

though we are no longer 

In cold and flu season.

I don’t know 

for sure what 

you have, but I’m 

going to take a 

sample for 

testing...

Hi Doctor, Eddie 

became sick friday 

night while attending 

the county fair. he HAs had a 101° fever, 

a cough, and muscle 

aches. he also suffers 

from asthma.

the results won’t be 

ready until tomorrow, but since 

you have asthma and are at high 

risk of developing complications 

from respiratory disease,

I’m going to prescribe 

you this medication.

Please

call the office 

If eddie starts 

to feel worse.

26
LATER TUESDAY AT THE 

LOCAL LABORATORY...

MEANWHILE, AT CDC...

FiRST, 

HOWEVER, THEY WiLL 

TAKE YOU ON A TOUR 

THROUGH CDC’S 

DAVID J. SENCER 

MUSEUM.

welcome to 

day two...

CLASS, TODAY 

OUR EIS OFFiCERS,

ALiSON, ALEX, AND KiM,

WiLL WALK YOU THROUGH 

SOME OUTBREAK

INVESTiGATiONS. 

CDC OFTEN INVESTiGATES 

VECTOR-BORNE DiSEASES, 

SUCH AS MALARiA, AS WELL AS 

ZOONOTiC DiSEASES, SUCH 

AS RABiES, TUBERCULOSiS 

AND INFLUENZA,

A.K.A., THE FLU.

HELLO, DR. WALKER. 

YOU KNOW THAT SPECiMEN YOU 

SENT US FROM EDDiE SCHWARTZ? 

OUR TESTS WERE UNABLE TO 

IDENTiFY IT. I’M SENDiNG IT TO 

THE STATE LABORATORY FOR 

FURTHER ANALYSiS.

ZOONOTiC PATHOGENS

CAN INFECT BOTH ANiMALS 

AND PEOPLE. SOME CAN 

MAKE PEOPLE REALLY SiCK,

EVEN IF INFECTED ANiMALS 

DON’T LOOK SiCK.

27
PEOPLE CAN GET ZOONOTiC 

DiSEASES THROUGH CLOSE 

CONTACT WiTH AN INFECTED 

ANiMAL, ITS ENViRONMENT OR

OTHER INFECTED PEOPLE.

CDC COLLABORATES WiTH 

OUR STATE PUBLiC HEALTH 

PARTNERS WHO ARE OFTEN 

THE FiRST TO IDENTiFY A 

POTENTiAL PROBLEM.

IF THERE IS AN 

ASSOCiATED ANiMAL 

OUTBREAK, THE U.S. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRiCULTURE

AND STATE VETERiNARiANS

ARE ALSO INVOLVED. 

WE ALL 

WORK TOGETHER TO 

IDENTiFY THE SOURCE

OF DiSEASE AND FiGURE 

OUT HOW TO DEAL

WiTH IT.

MANY FOODBORNE

DiSEASES ARE 

ALSO ZOONOTiC 

IN ORiGiN.

DO YOU THiNK 

EDDiE COULD HAVE 

GOTTEN SiCK FROM 

A FOODBORNE

OR ZOONOTiC

DiSEASE?

HMM...

MAYBE.

28
EDDiE?

WHAT’S 

WRONG?!

BACK AT EDDIE’S HOUSE...

WEDNESDAY, EARLY MORNING...

Mom, I feEL

WORSE.

I CAN’T... 

BREATHE...!

29
EDDiE?

HOW ARE YOU 

FEELiNG?

Not 

responsive

and barely 

breathing.

we MAY need to 

Intubate him.

pulse Is

rapid and thready.

let’s get him Into 

room #2. I’ll start

a line.

eddie!!!

30
HEY,

where’s 

Kris?

KRiS AND I 

JUST RECEiVED 

A TEXT FROM 

EDDiE’S MOM. 

oh no, 

guys! 

LATER THAT AFTERNOON...

...AND ONE DAY 

YOU MAY RETURN TO 

CDC TO TAKE ON THE 

RESPONSiBiLiTiES OF 

A REAL DiSEASE 

DETECTiVE AS AN 

EIS OFFiCER...

Hi EVERYONE.

I’M GOiNG TO HAVE TO 

EXCUSE MYSELF TO ADDRESS 

AN URGENT ISSUE THAT 

JUST CAME UP. 

ALEX, ALiSON AND 

KiM WiLL TAKE IT 

FROM HERE.

EDDiE IS 

IN SERiOUS 

CONDiTiON AT 

THE HOSPiTAL!

OUR STATE 

LABORATORY HAS 

JUST REPORTED 

TESTiNG A ViRUS

THAT WE CANNOT 

IDENTiFY.

excuse me, 

I have to take 

this...

DR. LEE, THiS IS 

JiM JEFFERiES WiTH 

THE STATE HEALTH 

DEPARTMENT.

THE ViRUS WAS 

OBTAiNED FROM A 17-YEAR-OLD 

BOY WHO GOT SiCK FRiDAY NiGHT. 

THiS BOY IS CURRENTLY IN SERiOUS 

CONDiTiON IN THE ICU. WE WOULD 

LiKE YOUR ASSiSTANCE WITH TESTiNG 

THE ViRUS AND PERFORMiNG A 

CASE INVESTiGATiON.

YOU KNOW

HOW SHE AND 

EDDiE ARE 

DATiNG?

SHE 

FELT LiKE 

SHE COULDN’T 

SiT BY WHiLE 

EDDiE IS 

SO SiCK.

I HOPE 

HE’S GOiNG 

TO BE OK.

I see...

31
TiME FOR A 

ROAD TRiP IN 

THE CDC VAN...

WELL, WE HAVE 

AN UN-iDENTiFiABLE 

ViRUS WE HAVEN’T 

SEEN BEFORE...

WHEN WE GET 

HOME, LET’S MEET 

UP WiTH KRiS. SHE’S 

AT THE HOSPiTAL

WiTH EDDiE.

let’s see 

how he Is doing 

and lend him 

our support.

I’m

In 100 

percent!

OK, LET’S 

SUMMARiZE 

WHAT WE KNOW 

ABOUT THE

SiTUATiON 

SO FAR.

YES, AND RiGHT NOW 

WE ARE DEALiNG WiTH A SiNGLE

CASE OF SEVERE RESPiRATORY 

ILLNESS IN A 17-YEAR-OLD 

MALE WHO GOT SiCK 

FRiDAY NiGHT. DR. LEE SAiD THE 

PATiENT’S ViRUS SAMPLE 

HAS BEEN SHiPPED TO CDC. 

WE’LL KNOW MORE ONCE 

THE CDC LAB ANALYZES 

THE ViRUS.

THE KIDS LEAVE CDC DISEASE DETECTIVE CAMP...

THE EIS OFFICERS PREPARE 

TO LEAVE FOR THOMAS COUNTY...

SHORTLY AFTER...

FROM THERE, 

WE’LL MEET UP WiTH 

REPRESENTATiVES FROM 

THE STATE PUBLiC HEALTH 

DEPARTMENT AND THE 

STATE VETERiNARiAN’S

OFFiCE TO DiSCUSS 

NEXT STEPS.

LET’S DiSCUSS THE 

CASE DURiNG THE DRiVE. 

WE WiLL DRiVE STRAiGHT 

TO THOMAS COUNTY. 

32
we’re all 

so worried

about eddie!

YEAH, LET’S DO 

IT! I THiNK WE CAN 

AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO 

NARROW DOWN THE 

SOURCE OF HiS 

ILLNESS.

THANK YOU,

SWEETHEART. EDDiE 

NEEDS ALL OF OUR 

LOVE AND SUPPORT

RiGHT NOW.

LET’S THiNK BACK AND 

SEE IF WE CAN USE WHAT WE

LEARNED AT CDC DiSEASE 

DETECTiVE CAMP TO TRY 

AND SOLVE HOW EDDiE 

GOT SiCK.

HELLO, 

MRS. SCHWARTZ. 

I WOULD LiKE TO SPEAK

TO YOU ABOUT EDDiE’S 

CONDiTiON, PLEASE 

COME WiTH ME.

LATER AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE EDDIE IS BEING TREATED...

33
likewise.

we’ll get you 

unpacked at 

our office.

AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT...

ONCE INSiDE, LET’S FiND OUT 

IF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS 

HAD A CHANCE TO CONTACT 

LOCAL HOSPiTALS AND DOCTORS’ 

OFFiCES TO SEE IF THERE HAVE 

BEEN ANY OTHER UNUSUAL 

RESPiRATORY CASES IN THE LAST 

FEW DAYS. IF NOT, WE CAN HELP 

THEM MAKE THOSE CALLS.

OK, WHiLE YOU TWO GET SET UP AT THE HEALTH

DEPARTMENT, I’LL HEAD TO THE HOSPiTAL TO 

INTERViEW THE BOY’S FAMiLY, CHECK HiS 

MEDiCAL CHART AND SPEAK WiTH HiS PHYSiCiAN.

Good to 

meet you, jim. 

34
I WAS 

THiNKiNG BACK 

TO BEFORE 

THE FAiR.

YEAH, 

I’M THiNKiNG 

BACK TO 

FRiDAY WHEN 

WE WERE ALL 

AT THE FAiR.

SO FROSTY 

DELiCiOUS.

hands

off!

OW!

“I remember we all had eaten together at the snack bar. 

I had a soda, and you and Eddie got ice cream.”

“Well, I think we can rule out ice cream 

because I had it too and didn’t get sick.”

AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM...

“I REMEMBER 

WALKiNG WiTH 

EDDiE. 

HE WAS TELLiNG ME 

ABOUT HiS PLANS TO 

SHOW HiS PiG, HAMLET.

EDDiE SEEMED 

HEALTHY THEN.”

35
MEANWHILE, AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT...

GOOD PLAN.

I’M GOiNG TO FiNiSH 

GETTiNG SET UP HERE, AND THEN 

I’LL CHECK IN WiTH ALiSON TO SEE 

IF SHE HAS ANY LEADS 

TO FOLLOW UP ON.

KRIS: “Yeah, he was the only 

one of us to eat a burrito.”

R.J.: “Yeah, I was doubling 

down on corn dogs, but

I didn’t get sick.”

I’M GOiNG TO SiT 

DOWN WiTH SOME OF THE

EPiDEMiOLOGiSTS HERE 

TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN AN

INCREASE IN RESPiRATORY 

ILLNESS REPORTED 

IN THE AREA. 

WE NEED TO ENSURE 

THiS NEW ViRUS IS 

NOT SPREADiNG IN

THE COMMUNiTY.

36
OK, 

I HAVE TO 

THiNK LiKE 

A DiSEASE 

DETECTiVE!

BACK AT THE 

EMERGENCY ROOM...

HMMM...

BUT WHERE WOULD 

HE HAVE GOTTEN A 

RESPiRATORY ILLNESS? 

WE WERE ALL HANGiNG

OUT TOGETHER.

WHAT WAS EDDiE 

EXPOSED TO THAT 

WE WEREN’T?

YOU ARE 

RiGHT, EM! 

“NOW LET’S 

TALK ABOUT HOW 

YOUR IMMUNE 

SYSTEM FiGHTS 

INFECTiON.” 

 

DO YOU 

GUYS REMEMBER 

DR. LEE TALKiNG 

ABOUT DiFFERENT 

PATHOGENS?

I REMEMBER 

ALEX TALKiNG ABOUT 

ZOONOTiC DiSEASES 

IN THE CDC MUSEUM.

EVEN THOUGH EDDiE 

ATE A BURRiTO AND THREW 

UP ON THE NiGHT OF THE FAiR, 

HiS ILLNESS HAS MAiNLY HAD 

RESPiRATORY SYMPTOMS,

LiKE COUGH, DiFFiCULTY 

BREATHiNG, AND FEVER. It SOUNDS LiKE 

A RESPiRATORY ViRUS,

WHiCH ISN’T SOMETHiNG 

THAT HE WOULD HAVE 

GOTTEN FROM 

FOOD.

37
OH, Hi! THiS IS 

QUiTE A COiNCiDENCE. 

WHAT BRiNGS YOU HERE?

HMMM... YOU ALL 

MiGHT BE ABLE TO 

HELP ME. IN FACT, 

YOU ALREADY 

HAVE. 

ALiSON!

WE ARE HERE TO 

SEE OUR FRiEND, 

EDDiE, WHO IS 

IN THE ICU. 

HE GOT SiCK AT THE 

THOMAS COUNTY FAiR 

THE FRiDAY BEFORE 

OUR CDC FiELD TRiP. 

WE WERE

JUST USiNG WHAT 

WE LEARNED AT CDC

TO TRY AND FiGURE

OUT HOW HE 

GOT SiCK.

I’M DR. ALiSON 

CROMWELL WiTH CDC 

IN ATLANTA. I’D LiKE 

TO ASK YOU A FEW 

QUESTiONS ABOUT 

EDDiE’S ILLNESS...

I NEED TO SPEAK 

TO EDDiE’S MOM AND 

DOCTOR FiRST, BUT 

AFTER I’M FiNiSHED, 

LET’S TALK.

Hi,

MRS. SCHWARTZ, 

Dr. ROSENBERG.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT 

EDDiE’S CONDiTiON AND 

WOULD YOU MiND IF I REViEW 

HiS MEDiCAL CHART?

AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM...

hey,

Dr. ALiSON!

DR. ROSENBERG.

38
MINUTES LATER...

ALEX: WOW!

OK, I’LL FOLLOW 

UP WiTH OUR STATE 

PUBLiC HEALTH 

COLLEAGUES TO 

GET A HOLD OF THE 

FAiR ORGANiZER.

I’VE SPOKEN 

TO EDDiE’S MOTHER, 

HiS PHYSiCiAN AND HiS 

FRiENDS HERE AT THE HOSPiTAL, 

WHO COiNCiDENTALLY WERE 

AT THE CDC DiSEASE 

DETECTiVE CAMP. 

THEY HAVE ALL 

CONFiRMED THAT EDDiE 

WAS AT THE THOMAS 

COUNTY FAiR THE NiGHT 

HE BECAME SiCK. 

I’M ABOUT TO 

SiT DOWN WiTH 

THE KiDS TO FiND 

OUT MORE...

Hi KiDS. 

LET’S TALK MORE 

ABOUT EDDiE’S 

ILLNESS.

 CAN YOU TELL ME 

WHAT YOU DiD AT THE FAiR 

TOGETHER AND IF EDDiE MAY 

HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WiTH ANY

ACTiViTiES THAT THE REST 

OF YOU WEREN’T? ALiSON,

WE WERE

JUST TALKiNG

ABOUT THiS. 

WE ATE AT THE 

SAME PLACES

AS EDDiE, EVEN 

THOUGH HE HAD A

BURRiTO AND NO 

ONE ELSE DiD. 

I JUST 

POiNTED OUT THAT 

HiS ILLNESS HAD 

SYMPTOMS ASSOCiATED 

WiTH RESPiRATORY 

DiSEASE, LiKE HiS 

COUGH...

VERY ASTUTE, 

EMiLY. WHAT WAS 

EDDiE DOiNG AT THE

FAiR THAT MAY HAVE 

EXPOSED HiM TO 

A RESPiRATORY

ViRUS?

THiS IS 

HELPFUL, EMiLY. 

PiGS CAN SPREAD 

ViRUS EVEN WHEN 

THEY APPEAR 

HEALTHY. 

I’M GOiNG TO 

FOLLOW UP WiTH 

MY FELLOW EIS 

OFFiCER, ALEX.

HEY ALEX, 

IT’S ALiSON. 

HMM... WELL EDDiE’S MAiN ACTiViTY AT THE FAiR WAS 

SHOWiNG HiS PiG, HAMLET. EDDiE MENTiONED THAT 

HAMLET WASN’T 100 PERCENT. HE EVEN ASKED THE 

FAiR VETERiNARiAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT HAMLET.

39
SEVERAL HOURS LATER... THANKS TO 

YOU BOTH 

FOR MEETiNG 

WiTH ME. 

DR. TOLANi, 

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU 

ARE THE VETERiNARiAN WHO 

INSPECTED THE ANiMALS 

AT THE FAiR. 

CAN YOU TELL ME 

IF THERE WAS ANY 

ILLNESS AMONG 

THE ANiMALS?

ALEX, IT’S ALiSON.

I JUST TALKED 

TO EDDiE’S FRiENDS 

again. THEY SAiD HE 

SHOWED A PiG

AT THE FAiR.

INTERESTiNG... 

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE 

WiTH THE FAiR ORGANiZER. 

WE’RE SUPPOSED TO MEET AT THE

FAiRGROUNDS TO TALK. I’LL SEE 

IF HE CAN HAVE THE FAiR 

VETERiNARiAN MEET 

US AS WELL.

40
WELL, WE HAD 

THREE HORSES WiTH 

COLiC AND A FEW 

CASES OF RiNGWORM 

IN THE COWS. 

I TOOK 

SAMPLES FROM THEM, 

WHiCH ARE CURRENTLY 

BEiNG TESTED AT THE 

STATE ANiMAL HEALTH 

LABORATORY.

GREAT WORK!

I’M INTERESTED TO 

KNOW THE RESULTS 

OF THOSE TESTS.

ANDY, ARE YOU 

AWARE OF ANY ILLNESS 

REPORTED AMONG 

PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED 

THE FAiR?

NOT SO MUCH DURiNG 

THE FAiR ITSELF, BUT I’VE HAD 

A FEW PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY 

OR SOMEONE IN THEiR FAMiLY 

IS REAL SiCK WiTH SOME 

KiND OF RESPiRATORY BUG 

FOLLOWiNG THE FAiR.

HMMM...

COULD YOU GiVE ME 

SOME CONTACT NAMES

AND NUMBERS SO I 

CAN FOLLOW UP?

THAT WAS THE 

STATE ANiMAL HEALTH 

LABORATORY CALLiNG 

WiTH THE SWiNE 

TEST RESULTS... 

YOU ARE 

GOiNG TO WANT 

TO HEAR THiS...

WHEN I

EXAMiNED THE 

PiGS, A FEW HAD 

A MiLD FEVER.

YOU HAVE 

THE RESULTS?

HMM... I SEE... 

THANK YOU.

41
SOON AFTER, AT CDC’S LABORATORY... HOURS LATER...

WE NOW KNOW 

THAT THiS IS A NEW 

FLU ViRUS WiTH GENES 

FROM PiGS, BiRDS AND 

HUMAN FLU ViRUSES... 

THE GENERAL PUBLiC WiLL 

NOT HAVE EXiSTiNG 

IMMUNiTY AGAiNST 

THiS ViRUS...

CALL ALEX, ALiSON AND 

KiM. WE NEED TO LET THEM 

KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALiNG

WiTH HERE. WE WiLL NEED TO 

CALL OUR STATE HEALTH 

COLLEAGUES AS WELL.

ALEX, ONE OF 

OUR EIS OFFiCERS 

IN THE FiELD 

JUST CALLED. 

THE BOY FROM 

THOMAS COUNTY HAD 

EXPOSURE TO PiGS AT

THE AGRiCULTURAL FAiR. 

RESULTS FROM

THE PiGS HAVE COME 

BACK POSiTiVE FOR AN 

INFLUENZA ViRUS

THAT IS CiRCULATiNG 

IN SWiNE.

OUR PRELiMiNARY

TEST RESULTS FROM THE 

BOY INDiCATE INFECTiON

WiTH A SiMiLAR ViRUS,

INDiCATiNG THE BOY MAY 

HAVE BEEN INFECTED 

BY HiS PiG. 

LET’S TALK TO 

USDA’S LABORATORY 

TO COMPARE THE GENOMES

OF BOTH ViRUSES. THE GENES

WiLL TELL US WHAT WE 

ARE DEALiNG WiTH.

If this virus 

has the ability to 

spread easily from 

person to person, 

It could start a 

pandemic... 

a global 

outbreak of 

disease...

42
BACK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT...

I JUST HEARD BACK FROM HEADQUARTERS. CDC’S LABORATORY 

IN ATLANTA AND USDA’S LABORATORY HAVE OBTAiNED PRELiMiNARY 

TEST RESULTS THAT INDiCATE A POSSiBLE MATCH BETWEEN EDDiE’S 

ViRUS AND THE ViRUs OBTAiNED FROM HiS PiG. THEY ARE SAYiNG 

THiS ViRUS HAS PANDEMiC POTENTiAL... 

FOR A ViRUS TO CAUSE A 

PANDEMiC, THE MAJORiTY 

OF THE WORLD’S POPULATiON 

MUST NOT HAVE EXiSTiNG 

IMMUNiTY AGAiNST IT, AND 

THE ViRUS MUST BE CAPABLE 

OF SPREADiNG EASiLY 

AND SUSTAiNABLY FROM

PERSON TO PERSON.

YES. LET’S HOPE THAT THiS ViRUS ISN’T 

SPREADiNG FROM PERSON TO PERSON YET, 

BUT THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO FiND OUT. 

LOCAL HOSPiTALS AND HEALTH CARE 

PROViDERS ARE STiLL REPORTiNG NORMAL 

PATTERNS OF ILLNESS, ACCORDiNG TO OUR 

STATE PUBLiC HEALTH COLLEAGUES.

THE FAiR MANAGER SAiD SOME PEOPLE

REPORTED GETTiNG SiCK FOLLOWiNG THE 

FAiR, AND HE ALSO SAiD MORE PiGS 

HAVE TESTED POSiTiVE.

YES. WE WiLL NEED TO FOLLOW UP WiTH HiM AND OUR STATE PUBLiC HEALTH 

PARTNERS TO SEE IF WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEiR ILLNESS AND POSSiBLY 

GET THOSE PEOPLE TESTED. LET’S GO AHEAD AND ALSO COORDiNATE WiTH THE 

STATE PUBLiC HEALTH DEPARTMENT and HEALTH CARE PROViDERS. WE CAN 

ASK THEM TO TAKE SAMPLES FOR TESTiNG FROM ANY PATiENTS WiTH FLU-LiKE 

ILLNESS THAT HAVE HAD RECENT CONTACT WiTH PiGS. WE SHOULD ALSO SET 

UP A PHONE CALL WiTH STATE AND FEDERAL ANiMAL HEALTH OFFiCiALS.

OKAY. Looks 

like our job 

Isn’t over.

Nope, we’re 

just getting 

started...

43
Keep 

fighting,

Eddie... 

I’M HERE 

FOR YOU.

BACK AT THE HOSPITAL...

44
These viruses 

are right on 

my tail...

I must find the 

cure before 

It’s too late!

MEANWHILE, A SUBCONSCIOUS EDDIE RACES TO FIND A WAY TO 

ACTIVATE HIS IMMUNE SYSTEM AGAINST THE ATTACKING VIRUSES...

45
ACCESS 

GRANTED!

I must be

close... 

This Input panel must 

open access to the room 

housing the cure! access

granted!

That did It! 

I’m In! 

There 

It Is!

This will target 

my Immune system 

against the virus!

46
Not a moment 

too soon!

47
I DiD IT!

JUST IN TiME...

48
OINK!

A WEEK LATER...

HOW ARE YOU 

FEELiNG, EDDiE? OH, I’M 

DOiNG 

BETTER.

AS YOU CAN SEE, 

HAMLET IS DOiNG 

BETTER, TOO. YOU KNOW, 

EVEN THOUGH I DiDN’T 

GET TO GO TO CDC’S 

DiSEASE DETECTiVE CAMP, 

I LEARNED A LOT FROM 

THiS EXPERiENCE... FOR ONE, 

I LEARNED THAT I 

COULD CATCH A FLU 

ViRUS FROM HAMLET,

AND NOT ONLY THAT, 

HAMLET CAN GET 

INFECTED WiTH FLU 

ViRUSES FROM US AND 

FROM OTHER PiGS

AT THE FAiR, TOO.

I ALSO LEARNED 

THAT DUE TO HAViNG 

ASTHMA, I AM AT HiGH 

RiSK OF SERiOUS FLU 

ILLNESS. TRUST ME, 

I’LL REMEMBER THAT 

TO TRY AND AVOiD 

ANOTHER TRiP TO 

THE HOSPiTAL.

REALLY? BUT WHAT 

ABOUT ME RAiSiNG 

HAMLET AT HOME?

THAT’S TRUE, EDDiE. 

ALiSON TOLD ME THAT CDC

RECOMMENDS FOR HiGH RiSK 

PEOPLE AT AGRiCULTURAL FAiRS 

TO AVOiD ENTERiNG THE SWiNE 

BARN AND TO AVOiD PiGS 

WHiLE AT THE FAiR.

SO... ALiSON SAiD THAT IT’S 

OK FOR PEOPLE AT HiGH RiSK TO 

RAiSE PiGS AT HOME. SHE SAiD THE PRiMARY 

CONCERN IS WHEN LARGE NUMBERS OF PiGS 

AND PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AT AGRicULTURAL 

EVENTS. THAT’S WHEN THESE ViRUSES ARE 

MOST LiKELY TO SPREAD BETWEEN 

PiGS AND PEOPLE.

OINK !

49
OH, I SEE. 

THAT MAKES SENSE. 

BUT HOW DO PEOPLE 

KNOW IF THEY ARE

 AT HiGH RiSK?

THAT’S GOOD TO 

KNOW. SO IS THERE 

ANYTHiNG ELSE THEY 

RECOMMEND DOiNG 

TO PREVENT GETTiNG 

SiCK WiTH ONE OF 

THESE ViRUSES?

ALiSON 

SAiD TO 

CHECK CDC’S 

FLU WEBSiTE 

IF WE HAD ANY 

QUESTiONS. 

I REMEMBER 

HER SAYiNG THAT IN 

ADDiTiON TO PEOPLE 

WITH ASTHMA, PEOPLE 

AT HiGH RiSK INCLUDED 

KiDS YOUNGER THAN 5

YEARS OLD, PREGNANT 

WOMEN, AND PEOPLE 

WiTH OTHER LONG TERM 

HEALTH CONDiTiONS, 

LiKE DiABETES, 

TO NAME A FEW.

WELL, THE EIS OFFiCERS 

SAiD THAT PiGS DON’T ALWAYS 

APPEAR SiCK WHEN THEY HAVE THE 

FLU, SO WASHiNG YOUR HANDS

BEFORE AND AFTER HANDLiNG 

THEM IS A GOOD IDEA. 

THEY ALSO SAiD YOU 

SHOULDN’T EAT OR PUT ANYTHiNG 

IN YOUR MOUTH WHEN AROUND PiGS. 

THiS DOESN’T REALLY APPLY TO ANY OF 

US, BUT THEY ALSO SAiD NOT TO BRiNG 

ANY KiDS’ TOYS, PACiFiERS AND 

STROLLERS INTO ANiMAL 

AREAS AT FAiRS.

SHE SAiD IT TAKES 

EVERYONE WORKiNG 

TOGETHER TO KEEP 

ANiMALS AND 

PEOPLE HEALTHY. THAT’S WHY THERE ARE 

SO MANY RULES WE FOLLOW 

WHEN WE RAiSE AND SHOW OUR 

ANiMALS, SUCH AS NOT KEEPiNG 

THE PiGS AT THE FAiR LONGER 

THAN THREE DAYS. 

AH! I SEE. 

DR. TOLANi THE FAiR 

VETERiNARiAN TOLD ME 

THAT THEY TAKE PRECAUTiONS 

ON THE ANiMAL HEALTH

SiDE, AS WELL. 

SHE SAiD THAT 

HELPS REDUCE SPREAD 

OF DiSEASE AMONG 

PiGS AND PEOPLE.

50
WHiLE EDDiE 

WAS IN THE HOSPiTAL, 

ALiSON TOLD ME A FEW 

MORE THiNGS. 

SHE SAiD WHEN 

FLU ViRUSES FROM 

PiGS INFECT PEOPLE, 

IT’S CALLED A 

“VARiANT FLU ViRUS” 

INFECTiON.

SHE SAiD VARiANT 

ViRUS INFECTiONS DON’T 

HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT SOME 

OCCUR EVERY YEAR, 

PARTiCULARLY DURiNG 

ALiSON ALSO SAiD THAT FAiR SEASON.

VARiANT ViRUSES ARE DiFFERENT

FROM THE FLU ViRUSES THAT NORMALLY 

MAKE PEOPLE SiCK DURiNG THE FLU 

SEASON. SiNCE PEOPLE AREN’T OFTEN 

EXPOSED TO ViRUSES FROM PiGS,

MOST DON’T HAVE ANTiBODiES

THAT PROTECT AGAiNST 

VARiANT ViRUSES. 

OH WOW! 

HOW OFTEN 

DO PEOPLE GET 

REALLY SiCK FROM 

THESE ViRUSES, 

LiKE I DID?

NOT TOO OFTEN. 

ALiSON SAiD THAT MOST 

PEOPLE WiTH VARiANT FLU 

JUST HAVE TYPiCAL FLU ILLNESS, 

BUT JUST AS WiTH ANY TYPE OF FLU, 

SOME PEOPLE WiLL GET REALLY 

SiCK FROM VARiANT FLU. THiS iS 

PARTiCULARLY IMPORTANT FOR 

PEOPLE AT HiGH RiSK,

LiKE YOU.

YEAH, ALiSON SAiD 

THAT ANY FLU ViRUS

INFECTiON CAN BE 

DANGEROUS, EVEN DEADLY, 

EVEN FOR OTHERWiSE

HEALTHY PEOPLE.

AS WE LEARNED 

DURiNG DiSEASE DETECTiVE 

CAMP, OUR BODiES’ IMMUNE SYSTEM

PRODUCES ANTiBODiES TO FiGHT AGAiNST 

INFECTiON, AND THE SAFEST WAY TO GET 

ANTiBODiES IS THROUGH VACCiNATION. 

ALTHOUGH THE FLU VACCiNE ISN’T DESiGNED 

TO PROTECT AGAiNST VARiANT FLU, IT IS 

STiLL IMPORTANT TO GET, BECAUSE IT CAN 

HELP PROTECT US FROM GETTiNG THE FLU 

AND SPREADiNG IT TO OTHERS, 

INCLUDiNG HAMLET.

SHE SAiD CDC 

WAS INVESTiGATiNG 

TO SEE IF THE ViRUS YOU 

HAD IS SPREADiNG 

BETWEEN PEOPLE...

51
ON THAT POiNT, 

ALiSON SAiD THAT THEY 

ALWAYS TRY TO INVESTiGATE 

VARiANT ViRUS INFECTiONS TO 

SEE IF THEY ARE SPREADiNG

FROM PERSON-TO-PERSON. 

SHE SAiD MOST 

VARiANT ViRUSES SPREAD FROM

AN INFECTED PiG TO A PERSON,

BUT THESE ViRUSES USUALLY ARE 

NOT ABLE TO SPREAD EASiLY 

FROM PERSON TO PERSON, 

LiKE SEASONAL FLU.

IN FACT, THAT’S HOW 

THE 2009 FLU PANDEMiC 

OCCURRED. ALEX TOLD ME 

THE 2009 H1N1 ViRUS HAD A 

MiX OF GENES FROM NORTH 

AMERiCAN PiGS, PiGS FROM 

EUROPE AND ASiA, BiRDS, 

AND EVEN HUMANS. 

THAT’S...

KiND OF 

CRAZY!

OH, YEAH! WHEN A FLU 

ViRUS FROM ANiMALS GAiNS 

THE ABiLiTY TO SPREAD EASiLY 

FROM PERSON TO PERSON, 

THAT’S WHEN A PANDEMiC 

CAN OCCUR. 

WOW! 

YOU GUYS 

JUST TAUGHT 

ME A LOT!

52
I WONDER WHAT THE 

EIS OFFiCERS ARE 

UP TO NOW?

I SAW ON TV THAT MORE 

PEOPLE GOT SiCK FOLLOWiNG 

THE FAiR, AND MORE DiSEASE

WAS FOUND IN THE PiGS AS 

WELL. THE EIS OFFiCERS 

WERE INVESTiGATiNG.

YEAH, 

I WONDER 

IF THiS IS THE 

END OF IT...

53
ADDENDUM

Please visit the following websites for additional information about health topics and recommendations

discussed in The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak.

CDC WEBSITE RESOURCES:

CDC Flu Website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/ 

CDC Swine/Variant Flu Website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/index.htm

What People Who Raise Pigs Need to Know About Influenza (Flu):

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/people-raise-pigs-flu.htm

Key Facts about Human Infections with Variant Viruses:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/keyfacts-variant.htm

Key Facts about Swine Influenza in Pigs:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/keyfacts_pigs.htm

Key Facts for People Exhibiting Pigs at Fairs:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/swineflu/fair_exhibitor_factsheet.pdf

Take Action to Prevent the Spread of Flu Between Pigs and People:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/swineflu/prevent-spread-flu-pigs-at-fairs.pdf

CDC Healthy Pets Healthy People Website: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/index.html

CDC Zoonotic Diseases Website: https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/zoonotic-diseases.html

CDC Pandemic Flu Website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/index.htm

USDA WEBSITE RESOURCES:

Zoonotic Influenza and Measures for Prevention at Fairs:

http:/nasphv.org/documentsCompendiaZoonoticInfluenza.html

Influenza in Swine: https://www.usda.gov/topics/animals/one-health/influenza-swine

USDA Surveillance for Influenza A Virus in Swine Update:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/sa_animal_disease_

information/sa_swine_health/ct_siv_surveillance/

CS270753-B