Tracking an Epidemic

“‘Where does [an epidemic] start? And how does it spread to so many people so quickly?’” Abigail wonders when she comes down with the flu. She and her epidemiologist mother team up to pinpoint the source of Abby’s illness. This fictional scenario, with captioned photos and charts on every page, serves as an introduction to both the scientific method and the field of epidemiology. Readers follow Abby as she formulates a hypothesis, gathers information about her sick classmates, and draws a conclusion regarding “patient zero.” One sidebar discusses the Spanish Flu of 1918; others shed light on real-world strategies used to track diseases. Back matter includes a glossary, list of book and Web-site resources, and an index.