Read this excerpt from When Birds Get Flu and Cows Go Mad! How Safe Are We?. 24/7: What kinds of careers are there in disease control?
DR. SCOTT DOWELL: Many types. I’m an epidemiologist. That means I investigate the spread and control of diseases in big populations. Or you could become a virologist. That’s a microbiologist who specializes in viruses. If you’re interested in animal diseases, you could become a veterinarian.

How does this question serve the purpose of the interview?

It moves the conversation away from the topic.
It can be answered with only a few words.
It reveals background information about the subject.
It draws out interesting information about the topic.