Final answer:
Hospital staff should react proactively to an increase in incidents by utilizing alert systems and conducting investigations to prevent disease spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hospital staff should take proactive measures when they discover a rise in incidents occurring at their facility. Alert systems such as low-tech, early-alert surveillance can play an important role in identifying potential outbreaks, like those of the plague. In the event that warning signs are missed, hospital staff should be prepared to conduct laboratory and autopsy investigations to confirm cases and initiate appropriate response and containment procedures. By doing so, hospital staff can prevent the further spread of disease and ensure the safety of both patients and the community.