Health Protection Teams lead on the management of outbreaks in the community, when indicated, including care homes and other closed settings, according to their statutory duties under the Public Health Etc. (Scotland) Act (2008). 

They make decisions on outbreak control using a population-based risk assessment approach in discussion with the care setting manager.

An outbreak can be defined as two or more linked cases with the same infectious agent – or where there are a higher-than-expected number of cases – associated with the same setting, over a specified time-period. The care setting are responsible for notifying outbreak concerns to the Health Protection Team.