Outbreaks of Illness:
2012 End of Year Report
Outbreaks occur when there is an increase in the number of disease cases, above what would normally be expected within a specific
place or group of people and within a certain period of time. In 2012, 176 outbreaks were investigated by Maricopa County Department
of Public Health (MCDPH). Of those 176 outbreaks, 10 were ruled out. This report describes trends and provides summary statistics
for outbreaks occurring in Maricopa County in 2012. For more information, please contact the Office of Epidemiology at MCDPH (602)
372-2605.
Characteristics of Reported Outbreaks: Maricopa County, 2012
Year Total*

Number of Persons Ill per Outbreak†
2 =Minimum
84 =Maximum
7 =Median

166
*10 reported outbreaks were later ruled-out and not
included in this summary
†For cases whom information was available

2012 Outbreaks by Etiology
Gastrointestinal
Campylobacter
Clostridium perfringens
Norovirus
Gastrointestinal- Unknown Type

74 (45%)
1 (1%)
1 (1%)
43 (26%)
29 (17%)

Other
Conjunctivitis
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Head Lice
Lye Irritation

32 (19%)
11 (7%)
14 (8%)
6 (3%)
1 (1%)

Rash
Impetigo
Ringworm
Scabies
Staphylococcus Skin Infection
Rash- Unknown Type

16 (10%)
1 (1%)
1 (1%)
10 (6%)
3 (2%)
1 (1%)

Respiratory
Influenza
Influenza-like Illness
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Strep Throat (Type A, non-invasive)
Respiratory- Unknown Type

21 (12%)
4 (2%)
1 (1%)
2 (1%)
4 (2%)
5 (3%)
5 (3%)

Vaccine-Preventable
Mumps
Pertussis
Varicella

23 (14%)
1 (1%)
12 (7%)
10 (6%)

For more information, please visit our website: http://www.maricopa.gov/PublicHealth/Services/EPI/default.aspx
For data requests, please contact: (602) 372-2631

Number of Outbreaks Reported by Month 2010-2012
2010 (n=144)

2011 (n= 147)

Number of Outbreaks Reported by Type and Month
2012 (n=166)

2012 (n= 166)

Gastrointestinal
30

Rash

Respiratory

Vaccine-Preventable

Other

16
14

25

Number of Outbreaks

Number of Outbreaks

12
20

15

10

10
8
6
4

5
2
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Month

Number of Outbreaks by Type and Facility (n=166)
Gastrointestinal

Rash

Respiratory

Vaccine-Preventable

Other

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month

Percentage of Gastrointestinal Outbreaks by
Etiology 2012

35
Campylobacter
2%

Number of Outbreaks

30

C. perfringens
1%

25
20
Unknown 39%

15
10

Norovirus 58%

5
0

Month

For more information, please visit our website: http://www.maricopa.gov/PublicHealth/Services/EPI/default.aspx
For data requests, please contact: (602) 372-2631