The CDC joined forces with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 4-H to develop a graphic novel aimed at educating younger people about variant influenza and infectious diseases outbreaks, called "The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak."
The novel also aims to help the youth audience learn more about how health experts conduct investigative work during infectious diseases outbreaks.
4-H is the youth development program of the United States' Cooperative Extension System and USDA. The novel follows a group of teenage 4-H members who attend the CDC's Disease Detective Camp and must use their newly acquired knowledge to help public and animal health experts figure out how one of their friends becomes sick.
In addition, the CDC has partnered with teachers in its Science Ambassador Fellowship to develop educational activities that will complement the graphic novel. The activities can be used middle and high school classrooms, and they highlight the graphic novel's themes.