Electronic Surveillance of Outbreaks in Lebanon
Author Information
Author(s): Ghosn Nada, Nasredine Alia, Baddour Yolla Merhy, Coulombier Denis, Nasserdine Samah
Primary Institution: Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
Hypothesis
Can electronic surveillance effectively detect outbreaks of endemic diseases in Lebanon?
Conclusion
The electronic surveillance system can detect outbreaks but has some delays in reporting and response.
Supporting Evidence
- The completeness of screening operations improved from 68% in 2005 to 89% in 2007.
- Abnormal signals detected increased from 26 in 2005 to 199 in 2007.
- Positive predictive value for cluster identification was 64% in 2005 and 50% in 2007.
Takeaway
This study shows that using computers to track diseases can help find outbreaks, but it takes time to get the information.
Methodology
The study assessed an electronic early warning system for four endemic diseases based on mandatory notifications and monthly data collection.
Limitations
The system has delays in reporting and data entry, which can hinder timely outbreak detection.
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