Disease Detective B/C

[illusionofconfusion]

First, if you want to change / add something to what you previously wrote, there's a little button next to your post that says "Edit". It's quite useful.
Second, although the focus is on foodborne illnesses, they can and will probably ask about other diseases. Disease Detectives is much broader than foodborne illnesses.

[SciBomb97]

First, if you want to change / add something to what you previously wrote, there's a little button next to your post that says "Edit".

Actually, it's at the top right corner of the post, not next to it.

Disease detectives focuses on epidemiological concepts, and the topic being foodborne illnesses just means that the questions will be focused even more on those epidemiological concepts that pertain to foodborne illnesses. For example, the methods of prevention of foodborne illnesses (prevention being a concept of epidemiology) differ from those of waterborne or insect-borne diseases. And while most mentioned diseases will be foodborne illnesses, there are those diseases which emphasize key points that pertain to multiple/all aspects of epidemiology that don't focus solely on foodborne illnesses.
I realize that that probably made more sense in my head...

[EpicFailure]

Why is Norovirus less likely to respond to antibiotics than Toxoplasma gondii? (this is what it indicated on a test) Norovirus is obviously a virus and Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoa so shouldn't they have an equal chance of not responding to antibiotics?

[Flavorflav]

Why is Norovirus less likely to respond to antibiotics than Toxoplasma gondii? (this is what it indicated on a test) Norovirus is obviously a virus and Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoa so shouldn't they have an equal chance of not responding to antibiotics?

Well, you might think so, but you'd be wrong. Toxoplasmosis is treated with sulfa drugs.

[Ethan1]

My partner and I each took a page of the answer sheet.

I did not have this luxury. Just for curiosity sake, what school are you from?

[MrX]

So, I'm doing this event again this year, and I was wondering: What food-borne illnesses do you guys memorize the symptoms and stuff of - if any at all? I have some basics down, like Botulism, Clostridium, E. coli, Listeriosis, Salmonela, Shigella, and Staphylococcus. I've taken multiple tests where they have matching questions on associated foods and symptoms, and also others where food-borne illness is only incorporated in the outbreak, so I was just wondering if you guys had any other food-borne illnesses that are pretty common and often appear on tests. Thanks in advance!

That list you have should be plenty. (I'd include Trichinosis, though.)
The most important ones are E. Coli and Salmonella.

I would also suggest Tuberculosis. (Spelling?)

Common parasitic worms (pinworm, hookworm, tapeworm), protozoan disease (giardiasis, amoebiasis, cyclosporiasis), fungal disease (cryptococcusis). Some people love to test about famous cases of food borne outbreaks. Keep your eyes on the news as well.
Definitely know the vectors for common diseases since it is part of the triad. I ran into Malaria for states and thankfully knew that Anophelus is the mosquito vector from having done Microbe Mission.

[stephritz929]

This is my first year in science Olympiad ever, and I've never been to a state competition. I got third in disease detectives at my regional, but I'm wondering how much harder is states or how different/more information there is needed to know. Also, what do you guys put on the sheet? For regionals I had vocab and the basic stuff and some photos but not really sure how much vocab I'll really need or how much info I'll need on specific diseases. Thanks in advance!

[deezee]

This is my first year in science Olympiad ever, and I've never been to a state competition. I got third in disease detectives at my regional, but I'm wondering how much harder is states or how different/more information there is needed to know. Also, what do you guys put on the sheet? For regionals I had vocab and the basic stuff and some photos but not really sure how much vocab I'll really need or how much info I'll need on specific diseases. Thanks in advance!

I would add basic calculations, such as relative risk, odds ratio, and sensitivity/specificity (if you don't have that already). Also, maybe include descriptions of foodborne illnesses. As for vocab you should be fine with the basic stuff like epidemic, vector, etc.

[havenguy]

This is my first year in science Olympiad ever, and I've never been to a state competition. I got third in disease detectives at my regional, but I'm wondering how much harder is states or how different/more information there is needed to know. Also, what do you guys put on the sheet? For regionals I had vocab and the basic stuff and some photos but not really sure how much vocab I'll really need or how much info I'll need on specific diseases. Thanks in advance!

I can tell you from personal experience that PA states is a lot harder than Regionals for disease. Find some common food borne illnesses, and learn what type of transmission they have, and what type of infection occurs (bacteria, virus, etc.). Also, if I remember correctly, usually there are two cases where you have identify what type of study it is, what the attack rate is, and depending on the case, calculate odds ratio or relative risk. You also have to work fast, because usually the test is long. I would recommend splitting up the test with your partner.

[EastStroudsburg13]

I want to reiterate everything havenguy said, and you also want to get practice using the formulas beforehand, so you don't have to spend as much time looking them up at the competition. Same thing with types of studies; if you can get good at knowing them and how they work, it'll save you time later on. It'll also probably give you a better overall understanding of epidemiology. The diseases are the biggie for the reference sheet, in my opinion, because that's not really worth your time studying as much as the other info.

Also, are you from Stroudsburg, by chance? I looked up the scores and they got 3rd at regionals as well.