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Leal Neto O, Paolotti D, Dalton C, Carlson S, Susumpow P, Parker M, Phetra P, Lau EHY, Colizza V, Jan van Hoek A, Kjelsø C, Brownstein JS, Smolinski MS. Enabling Multicentric Participatory Disease Surveillance for Global Health Enhancement: Viewpoint on Global Flu View. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e46644. [PMID: 37490846 PMCID: PMC10504624 DOI: 10.2196/46644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Participatory surveillance (PS) has been defined as the bidirectional process of transmitting and receiving data for action by directly engaging the target population. Often represented as self-reported symptoms directly from the public, PS can provide evidence of an emerging disease or concentration of symptoms in certain areas, potentially identifying signs of an early outbreak. The construction of sets of symptoms to represent various disease syndromes provides a mechanism for the early detection of multiple health threats. Global Flu View (GFV) is the first-ever system that merges influenza-like illness (ILI) data from more than 8 countries plus 1 region (Hong Kong) on 4 continents for global monitoring of this annual health threat. GFV provides a digital ecosystem for spatial and temporal visualization of syndromic aggregates compatible with ILI from the various systems currently participating in GFV in near real time, updated weekly. In 2018, the first prototype of a digital platform to combine data from several ILI PS programs was created. At that time, the priority was to have a digital environment that brought together different programs through an application program interface, providing a real time map of syndromic trends that could demonstrate where and when ILI was spreading in various regions of the globe. After 2 years running as an experimental model and incorporating feedback from partner programs, GFV was restructured to empower the community of public health practitioners, data scientists, and researchers by providing an open data channel among these contributors for sharing experiences across the network. GFV was redesigned to serve not only as a data hub but also as a dynamic knowledge network around participatory ILI surveillance by providing knowledge exchange among programs. Connectivity between existing PS systems enables a network of cooperation and collaboration with great potential for continuous public health impact. The exchange of knowledge within this network is not limited only to health professionals and researchers but also provides an opportunity for the general public to have an active voice in the collective construction of health settings. The focus on preparing the next generation of epidemiologists will be of great importance to scale innovative approaches like PS. GFV provides a useful example of the value of globally integrated PS data to help reduce the risks and damages of the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onicio Leal Neto
- Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eric H Y Lau
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vittoria Colizza
- Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Albert Jan van Hoek
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | | | - John S Brownstein
- Boston Children Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
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McNeil C, Divi N, Smolinski MS. Looking Ahead in the Rearview Mirror: During Action Review and Tabletop (DART) to Strengthen Health Emergency Readiness and Resiliency. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e355. [PMID: 36918368 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2022.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
During health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, systematic evaluation of capabilities, and multisector coordination are challenging while operating in triage mode. During Action Review and Tabletop (DART) identifies recommendations for strengthening readiness and resiliency by creating a single methodology integrating retrospective analysis of the response to date with a prospective analysis of future scenarios. DART utilizes a role-based questionnaire and participant-led discussion for retrospective response review and identification of future scenarios of concern. Tabletop exercises exploring those future scenarios are conducted in a multi-role format to assess readiness and resiliency. Participants evaluate findings to determine recommended actions to improve response capabilities. 3 COVID-19 focused DARTs demonstrated the ability of this participant-led approach to systematically assess, not only readiness for today, but also resiliency to future complications. While demonstrating its usefulness during COVID-19, DART's flexible and modular design promises to be an effective for any ongoing health emergency.
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Abstract
Timely outbreak detection and response can translate into illnesses averted and lives saved. As such, timeliness is an important criterion for evaluating performance of infectious disease surveillance systems. Through the use of clearly defined outbreak milestones, timeliness metrics can capture the speed of outbreak detection, verification, response, and other key actions across the timeline of an outbreak and evaluate progress over time. In this article, we describe a series of country-level pilot studies designed to assess the feasibility and utility of tracking timeliness metrics and highlight key findings. We then discuss subsequent efforts to develop a timeliness metrics measurement framework through expert consultation and provide recommendations for implementation. National surveillance programs, international agencies, and donor organizations can use timeliness metrics to identify gaps in surveillance performance and track progress toward improved global health security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Crawley
- Adam Wade Crawley, MPH, is a Program Officer; Nomita Divi, MSPH, is Director; and Mark S. Smolinski, MD, MPH, is President; all at Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA
| | - Nomita Divi
- Adam Wade Crawley, MPH, is a Program Officer; Nomita Divi, MSPH, is Director; and Mark S. Smolinski, MD, MPH, is President; all at Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA
| | - Mark S Smolinski
- Adam Wade Crawley, MPH, is a Program Officer; Nomita Divi, MSPH, is Director; and Mark S. Smolinski, MD, MPH, is President; all at Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA
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Lawpoolsri S, Kaewkungwal J, Khamsiriwatchara A, Sovann L, Sreng B, Phommasack B, Kitthiphong V, Lwin Nyein S, Win Myint N, Dang Vung N, Hung P, S. Smolinski M, W. Crawley A, Ko Oo M. Data quality and timeliness of outbreak reporting system among countries in Greater Mekong subregion: Challenges for international data sharing. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006425. [PMID: 29694372 PMCID: PMC5937798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-border disease transmission is a key challenge for prevention and control of outbreaks. Variation in surveillance structure and national guidelines used in different countries can affect their data quality and the timeliness of outbreak reports. This study aimed to evaluate timeliness and data quality of national outbreak reporting for four countries in the Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance network (MBDS). Data on disease outbreaks occurring from 2010 to 2015 were obtained from the national disease surveillance reports of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Data included total cases, geographical information, and dates at different timeline milestones in the outbreak detection process. Nine diseases or syndromes with public health importance were selected for the analysis including: dengue, food poisoning & diarrhea, severe diarrhea, diphtheria, measles, H5N1 influenza, H1N1 influenza, rabies, and pertussis. Overall, 2,087 outbreaks were reported from the four countries. The number of outbreaks and number of cases per outbreak varied across countries and diseases, depending in part on the outbreak definition used in each country. Dates on index onset, report, and response were >95% complete in all countries, while laboratory confirmation dates were 10%-100% incomplete in most countries. Inconsistent and out of range date data were observed in 1%-5% of records. The overall timeliness of outbreak report, response, and public communication was within 1-15 days, depending on countries and diseases. Diarrhea and severe diarrhea outbreaks showed the most rapid time to report and response, whereas diseases such as rabies, pertussis and diphtheria required a longer time to report and respond. The hierarchical structure of the reporting system, data collection method, and country's resources could affect the data quality and timeliness of the national outbreak reporting system. Differences in data quality and timeliness of outbreak reporting system among member countries should be considered when planning data sharing strategies within a regional network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranath Lawpoolsri
- The Center for Biomedical and Public Health Informatics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jaranit Kaewkungwal
- The Center for Biomedical and Public Health Informatics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Amnat Khamsiriwatchara
- The Center for Biomedical and Public Health Informatics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ly Sovann
- Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Bun Sreng
- Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | | | - Soe Lwin Nyein
- Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Naypyidaw, Myanmar
| | - Nyan Win Myint
- Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Naypyidaw, Myanmar
| | - Nguyen Dang Vung
- Institute for Preventive Medicine & Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham Hung
- Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mark S. Smolinski
- Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Adam W. Crawley
- Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Moe Ko Oo
- Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance Foundation, Nonthaburi, Thailand
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Lorthe TS, Pollack MP, Lassmann B, Brownstein JS, Cohn E, Divi N, Herrera-Guibert DJ, Olsen J, Smolinski MS, Madoff LC. Evaluation of the EpiCore outbreak verification system. Bull World Health Organ 2018; 96:327-334. [PMID: 29875517 PMCID: PMC5985427 DOI: 10.2471/blt.17.207225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To describe a crowdsourced disease surveillance project (EpiCore) and evaluate its usefulness in obtaining information regarding potential disease outbreaks. Methods Volunteer human, animal and environmental health professionals from around the world were recruited to EpiCore and trained to provide early verification of health threat alerts in their geographical region via a secure, easy-to-use, online platform. Experts in the area of emerging infectious diseases sent requests for information on unverified health threats to these volunteers, who used local knowledge and expertise to respond to requests. Experts reviewed and summarized the responses and rapidly disseminated important information to the global health community through the existing event-based disease surveillance network, ProMED. Findings From March 2016 to September 2017, 2068 EpiCore volunteers from 142 countries were trained in methods of informal disease surveillance and use of the EpiCore online platform. These volunteers provided 790 individual responses to 759 requests for information addressing unverified health threats in 112 countries; 361 (45%) responses were considered to be useful. Most responses were received within hours of the requests. The responses led to 194 ProMED posts, of which 99 (51%) supported verification of an outbreak, were published on ProMED and sent to over 87 000 subscribers. Conclusion There is widespread willingness among health professionals around the world to voluntarily assist efforts to verify and provide supporting information on unconfirmed health threats in their region. By linking this member network of health experts through a secure online reporting platform, EpiCore enables faster global outbreak detection and reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn Silver Lorthe
- International Society for Infectious Diseases, 9 Babcock Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, 02446, United States of America (USA)
| | - Marjorie P Pollack
- International Society for Infectious Diseases, 9 Babcock Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, 02446, United States of America (USA)
| | - Britta Lassmann
- International Society for Infectious Diseases, 9 Babcock Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, 02446, United States of America (USA)
| | - John S Brownstein
- HealthMap, Harvard Medical School, Boston's Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Emily Cohn
- HealthMap, Harvard Medical School, Boston's Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Lawrence C Madoff
- International Society for Infectious Diseases, 9 Babcock Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, 02446, United States of America (USA)
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Kluberg SA, Mekaru SR, McIver DJ, Madoff LC, Crawley AW, Smolinski MS, Brownstein JS. Global Capacity for Emerging Infectious Disease Detection, 1996-2014. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 22:E1-6. [PMID: 27649306 PMCID: PMC5038396 DOI: 10.3201/eid2210.151956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The speed with which disease outbreaks are recognized is critical for establishing effective control efforts. We evaluate global improvements in the timeliness of outbreak discovery and communication during 2010-2014 as a follow-up to a 2010 report. For all outbreaks reported by the World Health Organization's Disease Outbreak News, we estimate the number of days from first symptoms until outbreak discovery and until first public communication. We report median discovery and communication delays overall, by region, and by Human Development Index (HDI) quartile. We use Cox proportional hazards regression to assess changes in these 2 outcomes over time, along with Loess curves for visualization. Improvement since 1996 was greatest in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific regions and in countries in the middle HDI quartiles. However, little progress has occurred since 2010. Further improvements in surveillance will likely require additional international collaboration with a focus on regions of low or unstable HDI.
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Smolinski MS, Crawley AW, Olsen JM, Jayaraman T, Libel M. Participatory Disease Surveillance: Engaging Communities Directly in Reporting, Monitoring, and Responding to Health Threats. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017; 3:e62. [PMID: 29021131 PMCID: PMC5658636 DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.7540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 2012, the International Workshop on Participatory Surveillance (IWOPS) has served as an informal network to share best practices, consult on analytic methods, and catalyze innovation to advance the burgeoning method of direct engagement of populations in voluntary monitoring of disease. OBJECTIVE This landscape provides an overview of participatory disease surveillance systems in the IWOPS network and orients readers to this growing field of practice. METHODS Authors reviewed participatory approaches that include human and animal health surveillance, both syndromic (self- reported symptoms) and event-based, and how these tools have been leveraged for disease modeling and forecasting. The authors also discuss benefits, challenges, and future directions for participatory disease surveillance. RESULTS There are at least 23 distinct participatory surveillance tools or programs represented in the IWOPS network across 18 countries. Organizations supporting these tools are diverse in nature. CONCLUSIONS Participatory disease surveillance is a promising method to complement both traditional, facility-based surveillance and newer digital epidemiology systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Smolinski
- Skoll Global Threats Fund, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam W Crawley
- Skoll Global Threats Fund, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer M Olsen
- Skoll Global Threats Fund, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tanvi Jayaraman
- Skoll Global Threats Fund, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marlo Libel
- Skoll Global Threats Fund, Ending Pandemics, San Francisco, CA, United States
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8
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Abstract
Rapid detection, reporting, and response to an infectious disease outbreak are critical to prevent localized health events from emerging as pandemic threats. Metrics to evaluate the timeliness of these critical activities, however, are lacking. Easily understood and comparable measures for tracking progress and encouraging investment in rapid detection, reporting, and response are sorely needed. We propose that the timeliness of outbreak detection, reporting, laboratory confirmation, response, and public communication should be considered as measures for improving global health security at the national level, allowing countries to track progress over time and inform investments in disease surveillance.
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Smolinski MS, Crawley AW, Baltrusaitis K, Chunara R, Olsen JM, Wójcik O, Santillana M, Nguyen A, Brownstein JS. Flu Near You: Crowdsourced Symptom Reporting Spanning 2 Influenza Seasons. Am J Public Health 2015; 105:2124-30. [PMID: 26270299 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2015.302696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We summarized Flu Near You (FNY) data from the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 influenza seasons in the United States. METHODS FNY collects limited demographic characteristic information upon registration, and prompts users each Monday to report symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) experienced during the previous week. We calculated the descriptive statistics and rates of ILI for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. We compared raw and noise-filtered ILI rates with ILI rates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ILINet surveillance system. RESULTS More than 61 000 participants submitted at least 1 report during the 2012-2013 season, totaling 327 773 reports. Nearly 40 000 participants submitted at least 1 report during the 2013-2014 season, totaling 336 933 reports. Rates of ILI as reported by FNY tracked closely with ILINet in both timing and magnitude. CONCLUSIONS With increased participation, FNY has the potential to serve as a viable complement to existing outpatient, hospital-based, and laboratory surveillance systems. Although many established systems have the benefits of specificity and credibility, participatory systems offer advantages in the areas of speed, sensitivity, and scalability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Smolinski
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Adam W Crawley
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Kristin Baltrusaitis
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Rumi Chunara
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jennifer M Olsen
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Oktawia Wójcik
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Mauricio Santillana
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Andre Nguyen
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - John S Brownstein
- Mark S. Smolinski, Adam W. Crawley, and Jennifer M. Olsen are with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, San Francisco, CA. At the time of study, Rumi Chunara was with and Kristin Baltrusaitis, Oktawia Wójcik, Mauricio Santillana and John S. Brownstein are currently with the Boston Children's Hospital Informatics Program, Boston, MA. Andre Nguyen is with the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
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Abstract
In infectious disease surveillance, public health data such as environmental, hospital, or census data have been extensively explored to create robust models of disease dynamics. However, this information is also subject to its own biases, including latency, high cost, contributor biases, and imprecise resolution. Simultaneously, new technologies including Internet and mobile phone based tools, now enable information to be garnered directly from individuals at the point of care. Here, we consider how these crowdsourced data offer the opportunity to fill gaps in and augment current epidemiological models. Challenges and methods for overcoming limitations of the data are also reviewed. As more new information sources become mature, incorporating these novel data into epidemiological frameworks will enable us to learn more about infectious disease dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumi Chunara
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
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Wibulpolprasert S, Gresham LS, Smolinski MS. Emerging Health Threats Journal Supplement 1, 2013: A World United Against Infectious Diseases: Connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance. Emerging Health Threats Journal 2013. [DOI: 10.3402/ehtj.v6i0.20487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Gresham LS, Smolinski MS, Suphanchaimat R, Kimball AM, Wibulpolprasert S. Creating a global dialogue on infectious disease surveillance: connecting organizations for regional disease surveillance (CORDS). Emerg Health Threats J 2013; 6:19912. [PMID: 23362412 PMCID: PMC3557909 DOI: 10.3402/ehtj.v6i0.19912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance (CORDS) is an international non-governmental organization focused on information exchange between disease surveillance networks in different areas of the world. By linking regional disease surveillance networks, CORDS builds a trust-based social fabric of experts who share best practices, surveillance tools and strategies, training courses, and innovations. CORDS exemplifies the shifting patterns of international collaboration needed to prevent, detect, and counter all types of biological dangers - not just naturally occurring infectious diseases, but also terrorist threats. Representing a network-of-networks approach, the mission of CORDS is to link regional disease surveillance networks to improve global capacity to respond to infectious diseases. CORDS is an informal governance cooperative with six founding regional disease surveillance networks, with plans to expand; it works in complement and cooperatively with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Animal Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As described in detail elsewhere in this special issue of Emerging Health Threats, each regional network is an alliance of a small number of neighboring countries working across national borders to tackle emerging infectious diseases that require unified regional efforts. Here we describe the history, culture and commitment of CORDS; and the novel and necessary role that CORDS serves in the existing international infectious disease surveillance framework.
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Weldon MM, Smolinski MS, Maroufi A, Hasty BW, Gilliss DL, Boulanger LL, Balluz LS, Dutton RJ. Mercury poisoning associated with a Mexican beauty cream. West J Med 2000; 173:15-8; discussion 19. [PMID: 10903281 PMCID: PMC1070961 DOI: 10.1136/ewjm.173.1.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe demographic characteristics, patterns of use, and symptoms associated with mercury poisoning among persons who used a Mexican beauty cream containing mercurous chloride and to estimate the prevalence of cream use in Texas near the Mexico border. DESIGN Case series and cross-sectional survey. SETTING Border communities of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. PARTICIPANTS Persons who used the cream and contacted a health department in response to announcements about the cream and households that participated in the Survey of Health and Environmental Conditions in Texas Border Counties and Colonias, 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Urine mercury concentrations, self-reported symptoms, and prevalence of cream use among households. RESULTS Of 330 cream users who contacted their health department, 96% were women, and 95% were Hispanic. The mean urine mercury concentration was 146.7 microg/L (reference range : 0-20 microg/L). In 5% of 2,194 randomly selected Texas households near the Mexico border, at least 1 person had used "Crema de Belleza-Manning" (Laboratorios Vida Natural, S.A., Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico) in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS Most cream users had increased urine mercury concentrations. Cream use was common in Texas near the Mexico border. Physicians should consider toxicity in patients with neurologic symptoms of unclear cause and use public health departments when investigating unusual illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Weldon
- Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Epidemiology Program Office, CDC Atlanta, GA, USA.
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14
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Barat LM, Barnett BJ, Smolinski MS, Espey DK, Levy CE, Zucker JR. Evaluation of malaria surveillance using retrospective, laboratory-based active case detection in four southwestern states, 1995. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999; 60:910-4. [PMID: 10403319 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1999.60.910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The global resurgence of malaria has raised concerns of the possible reintroduction of indigenous transmission in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Malaria Surveillance System, using data supplied by state and local health departments (SLHDs), is maintained to detect local malaria transmission and monitor trends in imported cases. To determine the completeness of reporting of malaria cases to SLHDs, cases identified by local surveillance systems were compared with those identified through active case detection conducted at all laboratories that receive clinical specimens from 11 metropolitan areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Of the 61 malaria cases identified through either local surveillance or active case detection, 43 (70%) were identified by SLHDs (range by metropolitan area = 50-100%) and 56 (92%) through active case detection. High percentages of cases were identified by SLHDs in New Mexico (80%) and San Diego County (88%), where laboratories are required to send positive blood smears to the SLHD laboratory for confirmation. Completeness of reporting, calculated using the Lincoln-Peterson Capture-Recapture technique, was 69% for SLHD surveillance systems and 89% for laboratory-based active case detection. The high percentage of cases identified by the 11 SLHDs suggests that the National Malaria Surveillance System provides trends that accurately reflect the epidemiology of malaria in the United States. Case identification may be improved by promoting confirmatory testing in SLHD laboratories and incorporating laboratory-based reporting into local surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Barat
- Malaria Epidemiology Section, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA
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