Influenza

In Mozambique about 10% of deaths in children are due to ARI. Although influenza (Flu) virus may be implicated in these infections, little is known about the circulation of this virus in the country. Thus, Mozambique implemented the influenza surveillance based on sentinel sites, facing a great challenge due to several factors. One of them is the proper influenza case definition along with others challenges since its international standardization is difficult. In order to get insights to the epidemiology of flu we reviewed the first year of surveillance implementation monitoring data to improve procedures.

Objective

Analyse challenges of the first year of surveillance implementation in Mozambique, according to samples income, hospital staff performance and available tools.

Compare two influenza surveillance approaches

Standardized electronic pre-diagnostic information is routinely collected in Alberta, Canada. ARTSSN is an automated real-time surveillance data repository able to rapidly refresh data that include school absenteeism information, calls about health concerns from Health Link Alberta; a provincial telephone service for health advice and information, and emergency department visits categorized by standardized chief complaint. Until recently, real-time ARTSSN data for public health surveillance and decision making has been underutilized.

Objective

We developed early warning algorithms using data from ARTSSN and used them to detect signatures of potential pandemics and provide regular weekly forecasts on influenza trends in Alberta during 2012-2014.

The influenza A(H7N9) virus emerged in early 2013 in China, with more than 130 laboratory-confirmed cases identified within a short period of about three months. Evidence-based public health response is essential for effective control of the disease, which relies on epidemiological and clinical data with good quality and timeliness. Publicly available information from sources such as official health website, online news, blogs or social media has the potential of rapid sharing of data to a wide community of experts for more comprehensive analyses. In our study we described the strength and limitation of these data for various types of epidemiological inferences.

Objective

This study described the strength and limitation of using line lists that built on publicly available data in various types of epidemiological inferences during the H7N9 epidemic in China, 2013.

VA began using ESSENCE as a public health surveillance tool in 2005. The system offered alerting capability for pre-defined syndromes and querying capability for outpatient ICD-9 diagnosis codes. Herein, we highlight examples of how we have invested in upgrades to analytic capabilities and expanded data sources available to ESSENCE in order to augment the overall utility of this system within VA.

Objective

To describe VA’s experience developing innovative and alternative uses of a surveillance system and improve the overall value proposition of this tool for the agency.

H7N9 virus emerged in Eastern China in March 2013, which led to >550 human cases and >200 deaths in 2 years. Live poultry markets (LPMs) are considered as a major source of human H7N9 infections. In late 2013, the virus had spread to the southern provinces including Guangdong. Its provincial capital Guangzhou, detected its first local H7N9 human case in mid-January 2014 and reaching 10 cases in a month. As a response, Guangzhou government announced a two-week city-wide market closure, banning trading and storing of live poultry. Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention took this opportunity to establish enhanced surveillance on top of the existing routine LPM surveillance, to assess the impact of such on H7N9 viral isolation and survival.

Objective

This study assessed the effect of disinfection and closing live poultry markets in China on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus detection and viability in a natural setting. We characterized virus detection at different sampling sites to assess exposure risk to the general public and live poultry traders.

Public health practitioners endeavor to expand and refine their syndromic and other advanced surveillance systems that are designed to supplement their existing laboratory testing and disease surveillance toolkit. While much of the development and widespread implementation of these systems had been supported by public health preparedness funding, the reduction of these monies has greatly constrained the ability of public health agencies to staff and maintain these systems. The appearance of H3N2v and other novel influenza A viruses required agencies to carefully identify which systems provide the most cost-effective data to support their public health practice. Recent Enterovirus D68 outbreaks, along with the global emergence of influenza A (H7N9), the global emergence of influenza A (H7N9), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Ebola virus strains, and other viruses associated with high mortality, emphasize the importance of maintaining vigilance for the presence of emerging disease.

Objective

To identify and characterize challenges experienced by public health practitioners conducting surveillance for the presence of influenza, novel respiratory diseases, and globally emerging viruses in an era of limited resources.