The CDC recently released an update to Solve the Outbreak, the popular, free iPad app that puts the user in the shoes of a member of the Epidemic Intelligence Service. The app was introduced in February of this year, and this update added more outbreaks.
In this interactive app, you get to decide what to do: Do you quarantine the village? Talk to the people who are sick? Ask for more lab results? Spill the beans about the outbreak to the public? The better your answers, the higher your score. You earn points to rise to the top rank of Disease Detective. You will have to solve several outbreaks to reach this rank.
Today, my 13-year-old daughter used the app. Her response was extremely positive.
“I was surprised how fun this app was,” said my daughter. “There are thirteen badges in all: Trainee, Novice, Apprentice, Assistant, Specialist, Senior Specialist, Investigator, Lead Investigator, Assistant Chief, Chief, Master, Deputy Disease Detective, and Disease Detective. You can also complete achievements, like Smarty Pants and Public Health Nerd. If you love to solve cases, I would truly recommend this game. I had a lot of fun solving the outbreaks… now it’s your turn!!!”
