scholarly journals National surveillance capacity of water-related diseases in the WHO European Region

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-762
Author(s):  
M. Blasi ◽  
M. Carere ◽  
E. Funari
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
European Region ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Remedial Action ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Related Disease

Water-related diseases continue to cause a high burden of mortality and morbidity in the countries of the European Region. Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health are committed to the sustainable use of water resources, the provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation to all people of the European Region, and to the reduction of the burden of water-related diseases. A specialized Task Force is implementing a work plan aimed at strengthening the capacity for water-related disease surveillance, outbreak detection and contingency planning. Parties to the Protocol are obliged to set targets, and report on progress on water-related disease surveillance. The present paper aims to provide a baseline assessment of national capacities for water-related disease surveillance on the basis of the replies to a questionnaire. This was prepared in English and Russian and administered to 53 countries, 15 of which replied. The results confirm the heterogeneity in surveillance systems, the weakness of many countries to adequately survey emerging water-related diseases, and the need for specific remedial action. The findings of the exercise will form the basis for future action under the Protocol on Water and Health.

scholarly journals How Should We Be Conducting Routine Analysis of Traditional Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance Data?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Atrubin ◽  
Michael Wiese
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
International Society ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Periodic Disease

This roundtable will focus on how traditional emergency department syndromic surveillance systems should be used to conduct daily or periodic disease surveillance.  As outbreak detection using these systems has demonstrated an equivocal track record, epidemiologists have sought out other interesting uses for these systems.  Over the numerous years of the International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) Conference, many of these studies have been presented; however, there has been a dearth of discussion related to how these systems should be used. This roundtable offers a forum to discuss best practices for the routine use of emergency department syndromic surveillance data.

scholarly journals Assessment of the core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response system in Zanzibar, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Saleh ◽  
Jovin Kitau ◽  
Flemming Konradsen ◽  
Leonard E. G. Mboera ◽  
Karin L. Schiøler
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
World Health ◽  
Support Functions ◽  
The Core ◽  
Surveillance And Response ◽  
Facility Level

Abstract Background Disease surveillance is a cornerstone of outbreak detection and control. Evaluation of a disease surveillance system is important to ensure its performance over time. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the core and support functions of the Zanzibar integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) system to determine its capacity for early detection of and response to infectious disease outbreaks. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 10 districts of Zanzibar and 45 public and private health facilities. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data. This included document review, observations and interviews with surveillance personnel using a modified World Health Organization generic questionnaire for assessing national disease surveillance systems. Results The performance of the IDSR system in Zanzibar was suboptimal particularly with respect to early detection of epidemics. Weak laboratory capacity at all levels greatly hampered detection and confirmation of cases and outbreaks. None of the health facilities or laboratories could confirm all priority infectious diseases outlined in the Zanzibar IDSR guidelines. Data reporting was weakest at facility level, while data analysis was inadequate at all levels (facility, district and national). The performance of epidemic preparedness and response was generally unsatisfactory despite availability of rapid response teams and budget lines for epidemics in each district. The support functions (supervision, training, laboratory, communication and coordination, human resources, logistic support) were inadequate particularly at the facility level. Conclusions The IDSR system in Zanzibar is weak and inadequate for early detection and response to infectious disease epidemics. The performance of both core and support functions are hampered by several factors including inadequate human and material resources as well as lack of motivation for IDSR implementation within the healthcare delivery system. In the face of emerging epidemics, strengthening of the IDSR system, including allocation of adequate resources, should be a priority in order to safeguard human health and economic stability across the archipelago of Zanzibar.

Drowning in Infants, Children, and Adolescents

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-294
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Lifetime Cost ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Childhood Mortality ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Injury Death ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Near Drowning

Drowning and near-drowning are major causes of childhood mortality and morbidity from injury. From 1980 to 1985, drowning was the second leading cause of injury death of infants and children younger than 15 years of age in the United States.1 In 18 of the 50 states, drowning was the number one cause of unintentional injury death of children 1 to 4 years of age.1 Children less than 5 years of age and young people aged 15 to 24 years have the highest drowning rates.2 Drowning, by definition, is fatal; near-drowning is sometimes fatal. Drowning has been defined as a death resulting from suffocation within 24 hours of submersion in water; victims of near-drowning survive for at least 24 hours.3 For every child who drowns, four children are hospitalized for near-drowning.4 One third of those who are comatose on admission but survive suffer significant neurologic impairment.4 The annual lifetime cost attributable to drowning and near-drowning in children less than 15 years of age is $384 million.3 The annual cost of care per year in a chronic care facifity for an impaired survivor of a near-drowning event is approximately $100 000.4 There is no national surveillance system that defines the circumstances surrounding a drowning event well enough to enable the development of effective preventive strategies for children. A need exists to establish uniform state or local surveillance systems that consider developmental age groupings and geographic location and that account for environmental and behavioral factors that place children at risk. To design preventive strategies aimed at specific risk factors, such surveillance systems must define in sufficient detail the circumstances under which the drowning event occurred, preventive measures used, rescue efforts made, and the outcomes.

scholarly journals Surveillance of tuberculosis in the WHO European region in 1995 : results of the feasibility study

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Perrocheau ◽  
V Schwoebel ◽  
J Veen ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
European Region ◽  
Surveillance Systems

Efforts to assess the changing epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in Europe have been limited by differences in definitions and in the quality of tuberculosis surveillance systems between countries. In order to standardise the surveillance of TB among Euro

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document