Topic overview

Start with the big picture

In an outbreak setting, descriptive epidemiology focuses on summarizing patterns rather than establishing causes. Looking at affected people, locations, and timing helps investigators frame what is happening and communicate the observed distribution clearly. These descriptions can guide questions for further investigation, while remaining distinct from evidence that identifies a source or explains transmission. This preview introduces the role of person, place, and time as organizing dimensions and situates them within outbreak investigation. The full lesson develops this framework in greater detail, including how descriptive findings inform the next steps of an investigation.