Containment and mitigation tools differ depending upon the kind of infection that is spreading, and the availability of medical treatments and vaccines. With a known disease, it is easier to stop an outbreak. Containment tools include vaccinations, contact tracing and quarantines.With a disease with no medical treatment option, public health officials must find non-pharmaceutical methods for reducing the severity of the outbreak. These measures can include mitigation efforts such as quarantines, social distancing and banning gatherings of large numbers of people.
Deeper dive
When there is a rapidly evolving outbreak, with no known treatment option, as there was with COVID-19 until late 2020, U.S. officials first tried to contain its spread by restricting travel into the U.S. from China, where the virus first emerged. As the virus spread to other countries, like South Korea and Iran, the U.S. restricted travel from these countries as well.
Federal, state, and local public health officials tried to contain COVID-19 spread through contact tracing, and currently with masking, vaccines, and testing.
These containment and mitigation measures save lives. According to the Centers for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy, COVID-19 vaccines have saved an estimated 20 million lives globally between December 2020 and December 20221.