Exploring Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Herd Immunity Through Simulations with a Visual Appeal

Abstract

A quick review of social media indicates many people do not understand the importance of herd immunity and routine vaccinations toward curbing the spread of preventable infectious disease. This simulation is carried out in two consecutive phases. The first phase illustrates disease progression using acid-base chemistry and a pH indicator to identify participants who are infected during a simulated infectious disease outbreak. The second phase demonstrates the effectiveness of immunizations and resulting herd immunity during the same simulated infectious disease outbreak. A buffer is employed to serve as immune contacts not susceptible to infection. The pH indicators’ bright color (indicating an infection) is a welcomed visual for students and increases engagement while they anticipate whether their tube will turn pink or not.