Currently, three main sources of data are used to monitor the prevalence of influenza in Ontario: Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) FluWatch, Ontario’s Acute Care Enhanced Surveillance (ACES) data and Public Health Ontario’s (PHO) traditional laboratory data. However, a limitation of these data sources is that it typically underestimates the burden of infection in populations living in remote communities and/or populations with less severe symptoms. This study describes a self-swabbing surveillance system mediated by a THHL that uses syndromic surveillance tools to recruit and monitor participants with influenza-like illness. The intent of this system is not to replace, but rather to complement other surveillance systems and clinical based testing for influenza, thereby extending the reach of surveillance through the use of self-swabbing. An additional rationale for this type of surveillance system is that it can reduce transmission of infection by limiting the number of visits to emergency departments or doctors’ offices, thereby reducing contact with the young and elderly populations, who are at most risk for infection.
Objective
Explore the use and feasibility of self-swabbing mediated by a telephone health helpline (THHL) as a complementary tool for surveillance of influenza and other common respiratory viruses in Ontario, Canada.