New app lets users play ‘disease detective’

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to stop a deadly epidemic that is sweeping through your town.

That’s the premise of a new iPad game launched this week, by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US government’s public health agency.

The free app, called “Solve the Outbreak” lets users play the role of disease detectives finding clues and tracking fictional outbreaks before they spread.

“You’ll play the role of an Epidemic Intelligence Service agent,” the CDC said in a statement describing the game.

“Find clues about outbreaks and make tough decisions about what to do next: Do you quarantine the village? Talk to people who are sick? Ask for more lab results?”

The CDC said the app’s fictitious outbreaks are based on real-life cases, and the more quickly players respond to the challenges, the more lives are saved in the game.

The educational app is currently only available for Apple’s iPad and comes with three outbreak scenarios with more to be added in the future.

The CDC said it is using the app as a tool to educate the public on how diseases are spread and to encourage an appreciation for public health workers.

On its website promoting the game, the CDC has included links with information on how to pursue a real-world career as an epidemic intelligence agent.