CDC iPad App Allows You to Solve Public Health Outbreaks

The new iPad app released from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions offers you a chance to play the role of a disease detective.

"Solve the Outbreak"  a free iPad app allows the users to assume the role of a disease outbreak investigator in the agency's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) by navigating three fictional outbreaks based on real-life events, reports CDC.

The users are provided with clues, review data that will help them make decisions in order to determine the cause of the outbreak.  According to Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC Director, the main goal of this new app is to offer an engaging interactive way for the users to learn how CDC works at the time of an outbreak and solves it.  This way they also increase their knowledge about actual public health issue.  He states that this app allows them to demonstrate the challenges of solving an outbreak and how the disease detectives work to protect the lives of the people.

What's interesting about this app is that the user gets familiar with the health tips related to the disease. They can learn the definition and other information related to epidemiology and several other interesting facts.

As the user progress in the game he earn some points. And if the user is an active member on Facebook/ Twitter, the user can post their results in order to challenge other participants.  

"This is a great learning tool for science teachers, teens, young adults, public health enthusiasts and mystery lovers," said Carol Crawford, branch chief, CDC's Electronic Media Branch.  "The three introductory scenarios are based on actual events EIS officers have solved.  We also plan to add new outbreak cases." 

Available at iTune Store .