The science of microbiology is fascinating to those of us who have taken up the challenge of researching and teaching in this largely undiscovered and rapidly expanding field. One of the significant challenges faced by microbiology educators is to balance the need for providing a content foundation to students against the time required to demonstrate how microbiology affects their lives. The goal of Outbreak: Cases in Real-World Microbiology is to help students make the important connections between the content of the course, their everyday lives, and the ways in which microbiology impacts society as a whole. These real-world cases provide an opportunity for students to apply practical knowledge and to integrate their solutions to specific problems in cultures where customs, religion, public resources, and infrastructure impact the analysis.