Influenza surveillance: interrupting transmission

BACKGROUND Influenza is an important public health concern. A national surveillance system that easily and rapidly detects influenza epidemics is lacking. OBJECTIVE We assumed that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) related-claims is similar to the current ILI surveillance system. METHODS We used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Samples (HIRA-NPS), 2014-2018. We defined ILI-related claims as outpatient claims that contain both antipyretic and antitussive agents and calculated the weekly rate of ILI-related claims. We compared ILI-related claims and weekly ILI rates from clinical sentinel surveillance data. RESULTS We observed a strong correlation between the two surveillance systems each season. The absolute thresholds for the four-years were 84.64 and 86.19 cases claims per 1,000 claims for claims data and 12.27 and 16.82 per 1,000 patients for sentinel data (Figure 5). Both the claims and sentinel data surpassed the epidemic thresholds each season. The peak epidemic in the claims data was reached one to two weeks later than in the sentinel data. The epidemic patterns were more similar in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons than the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. CONCLUSIONS Based on hospital reports, ILI-related claims rates were similar to the ILI surveillance system. ILI claims data can be loaded to a drug utilization review system in Korea to make an influenza surveillance system.

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Influenza surveillance

Influenza Surveillance ◽

10.2217/ebo.13.641 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 2-5

Author(s):

John S Oxfor

Keyword(s):

Influenza Surveillance

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Comparison of 3 School-Based Influenza Surveillance Indicators

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice ◽

10.1097/phh.0b013e318252f005 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 119-125

Author(s):

Nancy J. Williams ◽

Tista S. Ghosh ◽

Kristine M. Bisgard ◽

Richard L. Vogt

Keyword(s):

Influenza Surveillance ◽

School Based

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Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction – characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00678-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zheng Li ◽

Cynthia Jones ◽

Girum S. Ejigu ◽

Nisha George ◽

Amanda L. Geller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geographic Location ◽

Control Measures ◽

World Health ◽

Small Island ◽

Influenza Surveillance ◽

Middle Income ◽

School Closing ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Potential Factors ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Background Three months after the first reported cases, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 90% of World Health Organization (WHO) member states and only 24 countries had not reported cases as of 30 March 2020. This analysis aimed to 1) assess characteristics, capability to detect and monitor COVID-19, and disease control measures in these 24 countries, 2) understand potential factors for the reported delayed COVID-19 introduction, and 3) identify gaps and opportunities for outbreak preparedness, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We collected and analyzed publicly available information on country characteristics, COVID-19 testing, influenza surveillance, border measures, and preparedness activities in these countries. We also assessed the association between the temporal spread of COVID-19 in all countries with reported cases with globalization indicator and geographic location. Results Temporal spreading of COVID-19 was strongly associated with countries’ globalization indicator and geographic location. Most of the 24 countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction were LMICs; 88% were small island or landlocked developing countries. As of 30 March 2020, only 38% of these countries reported in-country COVID-19 testing capability, and 71% reported conducting influenza surveillance during the past year. All had implemented two or more border measures, (e.g., travel restrictions and border closures) and multiple preparedness activities (e.g., national preparedness plans and school closing). Conclusions Limited testing capacity suggests that most of the 24 delayed countries may have lacked the capability to detect and identify cases early through sentinel and case-based surveillance. Low global connectedness, geographic isolation, and border measures were common among these countries and may have contributed to the delayed introduction of COVID-19 into these countries. This paper contributes to identifying opportunities for pandemic preparedness, such as increasing disease detection, surveillance, and international collaborations. As the global situation continues to evolve, it is essential for countries to improve and prioritize their capacities to rapidly prevent, detect, and respond, not only for COVID-19, but also for future outbreaks.

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Influenza surveillance in China: a big jump, but further to go

The Lancet Public Health ◽

10.1016/s2468-2667(19)30158-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (9) ◽

pp. e436-e437 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xiang Huo ◽

Feng-cai Zhu

Keyword(s):

Influenza Surveillance

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Effects of School Holidays on Seasonal Influenza in South Korea, 2014–2016

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiaa179 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 (5) ◽

pp. 832-835 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sukhyun Ryu ◽

Sheikh Taslim Ali ◽

Benjamin J Cowling ◽

Eric H Y Lau

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

School Closure ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Influenza Surveillance ◽

School Closures ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Severe Influenza ◽

Influenza Transmission

Abstract School closures are considered as a potential nonpharmaceutical intervention to mitigate severe influenza epidemics and pandemics. In this study, we assessed the effects of scheduled school closure on influenza transmission using influenza surveillance data before, during, and after spring breaks in South Korea, 2014–2016. During the spring breaks, influenza transmission was reduced by 27%–39%, while the overall reduction in transmissibility was estimated to be 6%–23%, with greater effects observed among school-aged children.

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