Figure 1. Schematic illustration of forward and backward contact tracing.
Two cases (index cases #1 and #2) from a transmission tree originating from an (initially) undetected primary case are assumed to be detected by surveillance. Possible results of contact tracing are shown where ( A) only forward tracing is performed or ( B) both forward and backward tracing are performed. Some cases may remain undetected because contact tracing can miss cases.