Topic overview

Start with the big picture

A case definition provides criteria for deciding whether an individual is counted as a case in an outbreak investigation. Case finding is the process of identifying people who may satisfy those criteria. The two activities are closely linked: investigators need a definition to guide the search, while information from identified cases can help clarify the group under investigation. This topic focuses on how these functions fit within outbreak investigation. It provides a starting point for understanding how cases are recognized and brought into the investigation, without setting out a particular definition, procedure, or example in this preview.