The identification of reservoirs involves a combination of epidemiological, microbiological, and ecological methods. Key steps include:
1. Surveillance: Continuous monitoring of disease incidence to identify potential reservoirs. 2. Field Studies: Conducting field investigations in suspected areas to collect samples from possible reservoirs. 3. Laboratory Analysis: Testing samples to identify and characterize the infectious agent. 4. Epidemiological Tracking: Using data to trace the pathways of disease transmission back to the reservoir.
