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Outbreak Response

Description

Infectious disease outbreaks, such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, highlight the need for surveillance systems to quickly detect outbreaks and provide data to prevent future pandemics. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool to conduct country-level assessments of surveillance capacity. However, considering that outbreaks begin and are first detected at the local level, national-level evaluations may fail to identify capacity improvements for outbreak detection. The gaps in local surveillance system processes illuminate a need for investment in on-the-ground surveillance improvements that may be lower cost than traditional surveillance improvement initiatives, such as enhanced training or strengthening data transfer mechanisms before building new laboratory facilities. To explore this premise, we developed a methodology for assessing surveillance systems with special attention to the local level and applied this methodology to the malaria outbreak surveillance system in Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe.

Objective: To conduct a field-based assessment of the malaria outbreak surveillance system in Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe.

Submitted by elamb on
Description

Most outbreaks are small and localized in nature, although it is larger outbreaks that result in the most public attention. So a solution to manage an outbreak has to be able to accommodate a response to small outbreaks in a single jurisdiction scalable up to outbreaks that involve thousands of cases across multiple jurisdictions and to handle different types of situations with different questions and response required. To make this happen, information and resources need to be shared more consistently and efficiently to help facilitate the communication that occurs at all levels and to support day-to-day operations in order to ensure consistent use.

Objective

1.To provide a flexible solution to perform an outbreak investigation by improving communications during an incident.

2.To provide all users with a common set of data for decision support.

3.To provide standard forms for a consistent approach and to improve data quality.

Submitted by elamb on
Description

Within the syndromic surveillance literature there are acknowledged gaps with respect to penetration of syndromic surveillance systems and standard or promising practices for response. The lack of adequate data and evidence-based policy recommendations on response is especially concerning because syndromic surveillance systems are only as useful as the timely pubic health response launched after aberration detection. We undertook the first step of a multi-phase study, with the global objectives of describing existing infrastructure in responding to alerts generated by syndromic surveillance systems and creating response guidance materials for public health practitioners. The preliminary findings contained here describe syndromic surveillance systems in use throughout the United States, future plans related to the use of such systems, and basic information regarding how outbreak response is initiated. This cataloging of systems complements work currently underway by the International Society for Disease Surveillance directed towards developing a comprehensive registry of syndromic surveillance systems.

 

Objective

We aim to describe current syndromic surveillance systems in use throughout the U.S. and approaches to initiating an outbreak response as reported by survey participants.

Submitted by elamb on
Description

In September 2004, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health began a 2-year pilot project to develop and evaluate an Emergency Department Chief Complaint Syndromic Surveillance System in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care – Public Health Branch, Queen’s University, Public Health Agency of Canada, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital. At this time, the University of Pittsburgh’s Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS, Version 3.0) was chosen as the surveillance tool best suited for the project and modifications were made to meet Canadian syndromic surveillance requirements.

 

Objective

This poster provides an overview of a RODS-based syndromic surveillance system as adapted for use at a Public Health unit in Kingston, Ontario Canada. The poster will provide a complete overview of the technical specifications, the capture, classification and management of the data streams, and the response protocols developed to respond to system alerts. It is hoped that the modifications described here, including the addition of unique data streams, will provide a benchmark for Canadian syndromic surveillance systems of the future.

Submitted by elamb on

Presented June 27, 2018.

During this presentation, researchers discussed how Outbreak Observatory, a pilot project initiated by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, facilitated the conduct of real-time operational research during outbreak responses, helping to improve outbreak preparedness and response capabilities.

Presenters

Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, Senior Scholar 

Matthew Shearer, MPH, Research Associate 

Diane Meyer, RN, MPH, Research Associate 

Description

Cholera causes frequent outbreaks in Nigeria, resulting in mortality. In 2010 and 2011, 41,936 cases (case fatality rate [CFR]-4.1%) and 23,366 cases (CFR-3.2%) were reported (1). Reported cases in Nigeria by week 26, 2012 was 309 (CFR-1.29%) involving 20 Local Government Areas in 6 States. In Nigeria, there are currently eleven (11) States including Niger state at high risk for cholera/bloodless diarrhea outbreaks. In 2011, Niger state had 2472 cholera cases (CFR-2%) and 45,111 other diarrhea diseases cases, recorded in more than half of state Purpose of surveillance system is to ensure early detection of cholera and other diarrheal cases and to monitor trends towards evidencebased decision for management, prevention and control.

Objective:

To determine how the cholera and other diarrheal disease surveillance system in Niger state is meeting its surveillance objectives, to evaluate its performance and attributes and to describe its operation to make recommendations for improvement.

 

Submitted by Magou on
Description

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the first diagnosed case of PEDV in U.S. swine in Iowa on May 17, 2013. PEDV subsequently spread rapidly among the domestic swine herds throughout the United States. As of August 20, 2014, PEDV had been detected in 30 U.S. states affecting more than seven million pigs since the epidemic began. In the first year of emergence, PEDV reporting was voluntary, but on June 5, 2014, the Secretary of Agriculture issued a Federal Order that all cases of swine enteric coronavirus diseases (SECDs), including PEDV, were required to be reported to the USDA APHIS.

PEDV only affects swine and is not a public health concern. However, NBIC was interested in reporting on this disease due to the economic impact. Swine and pork products are valuable contributors to the domestic and international markets.

Objective

NBIC utilized information from various sources to communicate pertinent information on the emergence of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) in the United States in written products to be distributed to its Federal partners.

Submitted by teresa.hamby@d… on
Description

Zanzibar is comprised primarily of two large islands with a population of 1.3 million. Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaigns, distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs), ensuring treatment medication is available, and use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) have reduced Malaria prevalence from 39% in 2005[1] to less than 1% in 2011-2012. This is the third time Zanzibar has been close to eliminating malaria, but there are serious challenges. These include vector resistance to pyrethroids, the shortlived efficacy of LLINs, and resistance to behavior change. Constant traffic with mainland Tanzania and foreign countries also poses the risk of outbreaks. An effective and sustained surveillance and rapid response system is essential to control outbreaks and optimize interventions.

Objective

This presentation aims to share the results of a six-year effort to use mobile health (mHealth) technology to help eliminate malaria from a well-defined geographic area. This presentation will review the history, technology, results, lessons-learned, and applicability to other contexts.

Submitted by uysz on
Description

A simplified syndromic surveillance system, based on early detection and reporting of four core syndromes and immediate reporting of unusual events, was established across PICTs in 2010. An early evaluation of the system was undertaken to make recommendations on improvements. The evaluation examined whether the system was meeting its objective of serving as an early warning system and its capacity to investigate and respond to outbreaks. Metrics included system acceptability, data quality, timeliness and level of compliance. The evaluation identified a critical need to better equip local public health officials with the knowledge and skills to rapidly and appropriately respond to suspected infectious disease outbreaks across the Pacific.

In response to the evaluation findings, the RAPID (Response and Analysis for Pacific Infectious Diseases) project was implemented to strengthen capacity in surveillance, epidemiology and outbreak response across the PICTs. Principally funded by Australian aid and developed in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN), RAPID is an example of a multi-organisational approach to swiftly address identified surveillance issues and strengthen regional surveillance capacity.

Objective

Surveillance evaluations should not only describe surveillance systems but provide evidence to improve public health practice. This presentation documents how knowledge gathered through a syndromic surveillance evaluation in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) with local health personnel was translated into action, in collaboration with global health partners.

Submitted by teresa.hamby@d… on