In order to assess the use of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Indiana, the Communicable Disease Reporting Rule, adopted October 11, 2000, requires the reporting of rabies PEP administration.
Indiana is a “home rule” state; that is to say, local (county) health departments (LHD) are responsible for health issues within their jurisdiction. Reportable diseases are passively reported to the ISDH through local health department by hospitals and physicians. Often this results in under-reporting of things such as rabies PEP.
While the primary purpose of the PHESS is to enable early detection of acts of bioterrorism, naturally occurring outbreaks, and as a situational awareness tool, PHESS staff have continually worked to find other practical public health applications for the syndromic data. The Epidemiology Resource Center at the ISDH houses subject matter experts in many areas of public health, including veterinary epidemiology. Until fall of 2006, the veterinary epidemiologist received all reports of rabies PEP via hard copy.
Objective
The purpose of this paper is to describe how the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) leverages syndromic surveillance data to improve statewide rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) reporting by hospitals. The Public Health Emergency Surveillance System (PHESS) is IndianaÃs syndromic surveillance system and resides at the ISDH.