An outbreak of schistosomiasis in a primary school in Omusati region, Namibia, March, 2016

Schistosomiasis is endemic in some parts of northern Namibia and there is a control program in the country with the use of mass drug administration to control and prevent the disease. On the 1st March, 2016, there was a report of bloody urine among primary school pupils in a school in Omusati region, Namibia. A team of health professionals was dispatched to investigate. This case study describes steps in conducting a schistosomiasis outbreak investigation and how to determine the risk factors. This describes how to calculate both the basic and analytical measures of association with 95% confidence intervals. This case study provides a step-by-step approach and can be used as a tool to teach the fundamental principles of outbreak investigation and response and how to measure the appropriate measures of association. This case study is targeted at intermediate- and advanced-level residents of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program and other epidemiology trainees.