Document Detail


Geographic representativeness for sentinel influenza surveillance: implications for routine surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16956163     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To review the guidelines for geographic representativeness applied to sentinel influenza surveillance as proposed in the Framework for an Australian Influenza Pandemic Plan (1999). METHODS: The number of sentinel practices, participating general practitioners and their consultation rates per 100,000 population, by region, were described for the Victorian sentinel surveillance system for 2003 and 2004. Influenza-like illness rates per 1,000 consultations were calculated for all participating practices and for a subset of regular participators. Indicators of seasonal influenza activity, set according to predefined thresholds, were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: During these two influenza seasons, a subset of approximately one-quarter (27%) of participating practices provided almost half (45%) of the patient swabs and detected the same level of influenza activity over two influenza seasons as all participating practices. However, this subset of GPs recorded only 0.3% of all GP consultations in Victoria in 2004. CONCLUSIONS: There should be an updated, evidence-based strategy for interpandemic influenza based on the number of general practice consultations. Requirements for surveillance during various pandemic phases also need to be reviewed.
Authors:
Hazel Clothier; Joy Turner; Alan Hampson; Heath Kelly
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Australian and New Zealand journal of public health     Volume:  30     ISSN:  1326-0200     ISO Abbreviation:  Aust N Z J Public Health     Publication Date:  2006 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-09-07     Completed Date:  2006-10-12     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9611095     Medline TA:  Aust N Z J Public Health     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  337-41     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, 10 Wreckyn Street, North Melbourne, Victoria 3051.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Disaster Planning*
Geography*
Guidelines as Topic
Humans
Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
Sentinel Surveillance*
Victoria / epidemiology

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