Frequently Asked Questions

Operation Outbreak (OO) simulation stands as the pinnacle of app-based experiential infectious disease education. Operating through a mobile app (accessible on iOS and Android), this simulation unleashes a virtual pathogen through Bluetooth across participant devices, prompting a contagious outbreak that participants strive to contain.

Begin by visiting the Outbreak Creator (OC) portal to tailor your parameters and launch your simulation. The OC portal will walk you through a sequence of questions to align the simulation with your population size and educational objectives. Once the simulation concludes, a link to our Outbreak Visualizer (OV) will be provided for you to review your data visually. Should you require assistance at any stage of your planning, don’t hesitate to reach out through our Contact Us option.

Downloadable/printable QR codes via the Outbreak Creator allow participants to simulate different interventions by scanning with their phones. We currently offer codes for three interventions: vaccines, tests, and masks.

No strict limits or cut-offs here. Historically, our simulations focused on middle and high schoolers. But now, we’re broadening to college students and adults too. The goal? Comprehensive outbreak readiness across all ages, guided by our simulation experience.

Operation Outbreak offers two experience tiers. In Basic (Level 1), any school or group can easily execute it with minimal pre-simulation planning. They also have the choice of incorporating our unique QR-code interventions (vaccines, tests, masks). The Advanced (Level 2) simulation immerses participants deeply in roles within members of the General Population (“Family Units“) or working members (“Work Units“) as Public Health Officials, Healthcare Workers, Reporters, and others. Preparing for Level 2 demands a higher degree of pre-simulation planning; delve into the Guidebook section on our website to learn more about the Advanced simulation.

Once you’ve grasped the high-level overview outlined on the Simulation Overview page, we suggest that you, as the Lead Facilitator, along with your fellow facilitators and participants, delve into the Advanced Guidebook for a comprehensive understanding. Following that, head over to the Outbreak Creator portal to configure and initiate your simulation. Once the simulation ends, we’ll provide you with a link to the Outbreak Visualizer portal, allowing you to visually review your group’s simulation data.

During the simulation, you (as the Lead Facilitator) and select participants (i.e. a subset of Work Units) will have access to the Outbreak Lookout portal. This distinct portal is optimally accessed via laptop or desktop computers during the simulation. It allows for the manual intake of user-reported simulation data. An enriching task awaits as you compare patterns and trends identified using Outbreak Lookout (accessible during the simulation) and those revealed through Outbreak Visualizer (accessible after the simulation ends).

Remember, our support is at your fingertips. Should you require assistance at any stage of your planning, don’t hesitate to get in touch through our Contact Us link!

Privacy matters. Take a look at our Privacy Policy for details. In brief, the Operation Outbreak mobile app does not ask for personally-identifiable information. Simulation participants get random usernames (e.g. Alpha Boston, Beta Boise, etc.). Indeed, the simulation experience revolves around anonymity. Preserving anonymity engenders valuable insights into how human behavior influences the trajectory of outbreaks.