Introduction

Message Status: Urgent

Classified Status: Highly Confidential

A viral outbreak has occurred in a New York City hospital. You are being summoned to investigate and contain the situation. Your whereabouts and the nature of this mission are to be shared with no one. Proceed to the task section for your specific role on this project. We will meet at the designated VORT launch site this evening at 1800 hours.

Process

Team Instructions:
Meet as a team (during class) and plan a detailed version of your scenario and discuss possible responses by team members.
Individuals should then focus on their individual requirements as described below (individual work at home). Useful website links are posted below your instructions.
You will meet as a team twice more during class to continue to coordinate your efforts.
Each individual team member must prepare and will be graded on
1). A 2-3 page, double spaced, word processed report on their specific role. Cite your references used, including the ones provided and any that you find on your own.
2.) A 5 minute presentation to the class on your plan, including the use of visual aids such as a power point presentation, overheads, or poster board.
The reports and presentations are not from the team, every student must make an individual version of both.

Individual Instructions:
Member Alpha-Your main function is to control the spread of the infection.
How will you halt its spread between people?
How will you dispose of medical waste?
How will you dispose of infected dead bodies?
Coordinate with physician to protect health workers.
Coordinate with public health official to protect the public.
Coordinate with the scientist for information to help prevent spread.
Plan scenarios which would require assistance of police or military personnel.
Produce a report and a presentation for your team, including all of the above elements.

Member Beta-Your main function is to isolate and study the virus.
Determine with the physician which part of the body is infected by the virus.
Plan how you will isolate the virus from infected patients.
Simulate an electron micrograph image of the virus.
Describe it:
What is its size?
Is it a DNA or RNA virus?
Is it related to any known family of viruses?
Name this newly discovered virus.
Is their a vaccine available for a related virus that may be used on the public? Share this information with the Public Health Official and Outbreak Control Manager.
Produce a report and a presentation for your team, including all of the above elements.

Member Gamma-Your main function is to treat the infected and save their lives if possible.
Describe the symptoms of the disease.
Determine the source of the infection.
How will you treat patients
a) for survival
b) for physical comfort
Can you treat with any drugs?
Coordinate with the Outbreak Control Manager to plan for the protection of your medical team and any necessary quarantining.
Share information on the symptoms and possible prevention of spread with the Public Health Official.
Produce a report and a presentation for your team, including all of the above elements.

Member Delta-Your main function is to control information on this outbreak event.
Decide when and how the public should be informed about the outbreak.
Prepare a press release statement regarding the outbreak.
Coordinate with the Outbreak Control Manager on recommendations to the public regarding slowing the spread of the infection.
Coordinate with the physician to determine the source of the infection and share this information with the public.
Coordinate with the physician to establish a flow chart leading to the index patient.
Produce a report and a presentation for your team, including all of the above elements.

Task

Member Alpha-You are the Outbreak and Control Manager. Your responsibility is to quarantine the area and suggest methods for containment of the infection. Coordinate with law enforcement and military forces as necessary.

Member Beta-You are the Research Scientist. You will be responsible for isolation and identification of the virus. How will you safely isolate the virus from patients for study and classification? Once isolated, is it related to a known class of viruses or is it a newly discovered one?

Member Gamma-You are the physician. Your responsibility is to treat the infected patients and help protect your medical staff from becoming infected.

Member Delta-You are the Public Health Official. When and how should this information be released to the public? What recommendations should we make to the general public to prevent the spreading of the infection?

Evaluation

The following rubric shows how you will be graded for this project.

Conclusion

Congratuations V.O.R.T. Project Team on your successful isolation and investigation of this viral threat to humanity. Thankfully, the situation is now under control and we are prepared for future outbreaks. As part of your debriefing, we ask you to answer the following questions:

1. What unanticipated problems arose that slowed the progress of your work?

2. How could the team have been organized more effectively? Do you suggest the addition of any additional team members and what would be their role?

3. What did you learn about the value of teamwork during this project?

4. Briefly summarize the impact of your contribution to the team's goal.

Teacher Page

This is designed as a group project, with the creation of different responsibilities for each member of a 4 person team. Students can be assigned their role in their team based on their interest or ability in each of four different roles; that of the organizer/leader, the investigating biologist/scientist, the caregiver/physician or public speaker/PR person. The different roles allow the students to engage in the subject of viruses and infection from different perspectives based on their strengths or preferences.
The different roles are somewhat interdependent as each team member has to bring their perspective into a common group “story” of a viral outbreak. Although cooperation and team work in the group is critical for a well put together final product, students are graded individually on their own written reports and oral presentations. The type of virus/virus family can be assigned by the teacher to each group (a flu-like, HIV-like, hepatitis-type, etc.) or can be left to the students’ imaginations. Please e-mail any suggestions for improvements (credit will be given) or corrections to me at: teachesbio@yahoo.com.

Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science & Technology met by this assignment:

3.2.10 C: Apply the elements of scientific inquiry to solve problems.
*Generate questions about objects, organisms and/or events that can be answered through scientific investigations.
3.2.10 D: Identify and apply the technological design process to solve problems.
*Examine the problem, rank all necessary information and all questions that must be answered.
*Propose and analyze a solution.
*Communicate the process and evaluate and present the impact of the solution.