 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When the next pandemic strikes, technology may be key to lessening its impact. New research shows a real-time, Internet-based disease reporting system has sharpened detection of tuberculosis and bird flu in China.
After looking at strategies undertaken in China to bring infections diseases under control, researchers found a real-time monitoring system implemented during the SARS epidemic increased the efficiency of disease reporting. The system has both reduced underreporting of infectious diseases and provided more details about disease outbreaks than were available through the countrys traditional surveillance system.
Text Continues Below
A new approach that included the new internet-based reporting system increased detection of tuberculosis in China by 80 percent between 2000 and 2005, surpassing the countrys goal that was set by the World Health Organization. A new program aimed specifically at bringing tuberculosis under control included immediate, Internet-based reporting of tuberculosis cases to the local Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and active follow-up on those cases.
The new reporting system also identified 21 cases of bird flu in humans out of 236 cases of unidentified pneumonia between 2005 and 2006.
Authors write the surveillance system may serve as a good model for disease monitoring in developing countries.
SOURCE: Lancet, 2008
Sign up for a free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs called First to Know by clicking here.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
|
.gif)
