had an outbreak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had an outbreak" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden occurrence of a disease or problem, typically in a specific location or population. Example: "The region had an outbreak of measles last summer, prompting health officials to issue a warning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

And they had an outbreak.

Independent

Ms. Capatosto said the school had an outbreak of lice last year and ringworm this year.

The New York Times

Last year, for instance, four markets in New Jersey had an outbreak of an H7 flu.

The New York Times

Nepal had an outbreak in August, from the strain that is now in Haiti.

The New York Times

Britain, which produces vaccines for other nations fighting foot-and-mouth disease, had not had an outbreak since 1967.

The New York Times

"You had an outbreak before we got there, but you didn't tell us," Mr. Oligino said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We have an outbreak of typhoid in the capital.

The Guardian

"What is unusual is to have an outbreak concentrated in one area like this," he said.

The New York Times

"We do not have an outbreak of Ebola in the United States.

Independent

In each of those habitats, the risks become more dangerous, for example if you have an outbreak of parasites".

The Guardian

He added that the German officials regarded the French president as someone "always liable to have an outbreak of temper".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing public health, use "had an outbreak" to clearly and directly communicate the occurrence of a sudden increase in disease or other health-related incidents.

Common error

Avoid using "had an outbreak" metaphorically for non-health related situations unless the context clearly implies a sudden and undesirable surge, as overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had an outbreak" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically indicating that a subject experienced the onset or sudden increase of a disease or other negative phenomenon. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had an outbreak" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the sudden occurrence of a disease or problem. Ludwig AI confirms this. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it serves to inform about and raise awareness of health-related events. While versatile, its use is best suited for contexts where a clear, factual, and neutral tone is appropriate. Remember to avoid overusing it metaphorically to retain its impact. Some alternative phrases are "experienced an epidemic", "faced a disease surge" and "encountered a health crisis".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced an epidemic

Replaces "outbreak" with "epidemic", focusing on the widespread nature of the disease.

faced a disease surge

Emphasizes the sudden increase in disease cases, replacing "outbreak" with a more dynamic term.

encountered a health crisis

Shifts the focus to the broader implications of the outbreak as a "health crisis".

dealt with an epidemic flare-up

Highlights the sudden and intense nature of the epidemic, using the term "flare-up".

witnessed an infectious disease emergence

More formal and scientific, focusing on the "emergence" of an infectious disease.

battled a contagion spread

Focuses on the fight against the spread of a contagious disease.

underwent a disease incidence increase

A more technical and statistical way of describing an outbreak, highlighting the increased incidence.

suffered an episode of contagion

Highlights the negative impact and suffering caused by the contagious event.

saw a cluster of cases

Focuses on the appearance of a concentrated group of disease cases.

reported a sudden increase in illnesses

A more general way of describing an outbreak, without specifying the exact nature of the illnesses.

FAQs

How can I use "had an outbreak" in a sentence?

You can use "had an outbreak" to describe a sudden occurrence of a disease or problem. For example, "The city "had an outbreak" of measles last year".

What can I say instead of "had an outbreak"?

You can use alternatives like "experienced an epidemic", "faced a disease surge", or "encountered a health crisis" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had an outbreak" or "experienced an outbreak"?

Both ""had an outbreak"" and "experienced an outbreak" are correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "outbreak" and "epidemic"?

"Outbreak" generally refers to a sudden increase in cases of a disease in a specific place. "Epidemic" refers to a more widespread occurrence of a disease, often affecting a larger region or population. Thus, a contained incident would be an "outbreak" while "epidemic" would indicate a significantly broader health crisis.