Key scenes in the CDC's new graphic novel take place at a county fair. The festivities have begun as the four teen 4-H members arrive.
Welcome to the county fair —
Key scenes in the CDC's new graphic novel take place at a county fair. The festivities have begun as the four teen 4-H members arrive.
CDC
During the day, Eddie grappled with a sluggish pig while his friend was disappointed by a cake, yet nighttime brings new amusements for the teens at the fair.
Night falls after a long day —
During the day, Eddie grappled with a sluggish pig while his friend was disappointed by a cake, yet nighttime brings new amusements for the teens at the fair.
CDC
Burritos, ice cream and corn dogs feed the hungry teens.
An evening meal —
Burritos, ice cream and corn dogs feed the hungry teens.
CDC
The next morning appears less than sunny when Eddie wakes coughing after vomiting the previous night.
A new day dawns —
The next morning appears less than sunny when Eddie wakes coughing after vomiting the previous night.
CDC
While three of the teens learn about disease outbreaks from Dr. Lee at the CDC, Eddie lies sick in bed at home.
Classrooms and bedrooms —
While three of the teens learn about disease outbreaks from Dr. Lee at the CDC, Eddie lies sick in bed at home.
CDC
Eddie's illness turns serious when he suddenly is unable to breathe in the middle of the night. His mother rushes him to the hospital.
Emergency at Eddie's house —
Eddie's illness turns serious when he suddenly is unable to breathe in the middle of the night. His mother rushes him to the hospital.
CDC
Eddie's three friends stop by the hospital and are shocked by how sick he is and how sad his mother appears.
Visiting hours —
Eddie's three friends stop by the hospital and are shocked by how sick he is and how sad his mother appears.
CDC
Using their newly acquired detective skills, the teens begin their analysis of Eddie's illness: Could it be what he ate ... or something else?
Putting knowledge to the test —
Using their newly acquired detective skills, the teens begin their analysis of Eddie's illness: Could it be what he ate ... or something else?
CDC
After the teens provide valuable information, the CDC disease detectives consult with the county fair's veterinarian as part of their investigation of Eddie's illness.
Adult disease detectives —
After the teens provide valuable information, the CDC disease detectives consult with the county fair's veterinarian as part of their investigation of Eddie's illness.
CDC
Meanwhile, Eddie lies unconscious in a hospital bed as his imagination spins a tale of his immune system battling to save his life.
The mighty mind —
Meanwhile, Eddie lies unconscious in a hospital bed as his imagination spins a tale of his immune system battling to save his life.
CDC
As his mother watches, Eddie wakes from his dream, still weak yet newly enlightened about his body's ability to fight disease.
Woke —
As his mother watches, Eddie wakes from his dream, still weak yet newly enlightened about his body's ability to fight disease.
CDC
A week later, Eddie is feeling better and sharing what he learned: that humans can catch the flu from a sick pig.
Lessons beyond the classroom —
A week later, Eddie is feeling better and sharing what he learned: that humans can catch the flu from a sick pig.
CDC
The art of disease detection

Story highlights

A new CDC graphic novel illustrates the detective work that follows an outbreak of infectious disease

Real-life incidents follow the same pattern of disease detection depicted in the novel

CNN  — 

A new graphic novel, published last week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illustrates important public health lessons for teenage scientists.

Yet “The Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak” also reveals the truth behind the adage “life imitates art.”

Illustrated by Bob Hobbs, the graphic novel follows a group of students who participate in their state’s agricultural fair. Later, the four teens attend the CDC’s Disease Detective Camp in Atlanta, a real-life summer educational program in which high school students learn how to track outbreaks of disease.

When one of the four teens becomes ill and is rushed to the emergency room, the rest of the group use their newly acquired knowledge of disease investigation to help a team of public health experts solve the mystery of how their friend became sick.

Coincidentally, as the CDC prepared the book’s release, California and Michigan were reporting very similar circumstances at their own state fairs.

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Related article Seven reasons we're at more risk than ever of a global pandemic

At the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, which took place in San Luis Obispo County from July 18 through 29, two people fell ill after attending the fair. Similarly, two attendees of the Fowlerville Family Fair in Michigan, which took place in Livingston County from July 23 through 28, also became sick in the days after.

Public health disease detectives in both states immediately tested the patients for variant influenza virus, a flu strain that normally circulates in swine but not people. Person-to-person transmission of variant strains is uncommon, and you cannot catch this type of flu from eating pork.

Instead, the flu is transmitted from pig to person. You might breathe in the virus after a pig has coughed or sneezed, for example, or maybe you touch something that an infected pig has contaminated with their saliva.

Across the nation, variant flu infections have occurred each summer in recent years, according to the CDC.

The symptoms of a variant virus, which usually start within four days and last up to seven days, are the same as those of seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Severe disease, such as pneumonia, can result from a variant flu strain even in healthy people. In such rare cases, hospitalization might be required, and the illness could lead to death.

Young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with a chronic health disease, including asthma and diabetes, are most susceptible.

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Ultimately, the conclusions of the outbreak investigations in California and Michigan were also foreshadowed by the CDC’s graphic novel.

By August 4, the nation’s public health agency had confirmed variant swine flu in each of the patients and noted that all four either were recuperating or had fully recovered from their bouts of brief illness.