Category: Fall 2024

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Rao Fu’s Precis on Outbreak of Salmonella at Salad Bar

Salad bar.

Fu reports on the intentional outbreak of salmonella at a salad bar, highlighting the different approaches taken by public health agencies and law enforcement for intentional versus non-intentional contamination. The analysis touches on the psychological impact that an outbreak can have on a community, and emphasizes the need for building trust and effective communication from public health leaders to decrease fear and distress. 

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Josephine Edery’s Case Study on the El Paso Walmart Shooting

People hold their phones with flashlights up in the air as a woman holds a sign that says "NO MORE GUNS."

On August 3, 2019, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius entered a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, carrying an AR-47-style semi-automatic rifle. He killed 23 and injured 22 civilians in what is considered the deadliest attack on Hispanic people in modern U.S. history. Crusius has since pleaded guilty and is serving 90 consecutive life sentences.

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Kelsee Katsanes’ Case Study on the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting

Young people holding up signs that say "LOVE YOUR KIDS NOT YOUR GUNS" and "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He killed 20 children and seven adults, including his mother, before taking his own life. The event sparked several debates on gun control, mental health, and initiatives to improve school safety.

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Samantha Whitegeese’s Case Study on 1993 Four Corners Hantavirus Outbreak

Deer mice.

In 1993, the Southwestern region of the Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet, had nearly 30 cases of acute hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and 16 deaths from Sin Nombre Virus (SNV), caused by deer mice. As the region overlaps with the Navajo Nation, the Navajo people faced public shame for the rise in the disease, and were blamed for its consequences. 

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Ameisha O’Connor’s Case Study on Childhood Cancer in New Jersey

Water quality test

In 1995, the New Jersey Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry began an investigation into the growing concerns about elevated rates of childhood cancer in the New Jersey region. The investigation was a response to resident concerns about water environmental pollution. The research focused on industrial sites in the area that were ultimately found responsible for significant contamination. 

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