Research Article
Development and Application of a Framework for Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence in Lower Resource Settings
Kate Sawford1*, Colin Robertson2,3, Suraj Gunawardena4 and Craig Stephen5
1Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
2Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
3Spatial Pattern Analysis & Research (SPAR) Laboratory, Dept of Geography, University of Victoria
4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Peradeniya
5Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
- *Corresponding Author:
- Kate Sawford
Department of Ecosystem and Public Health
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
TRW 2D26, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
Tel: 250-882-6720
E-mail: kate.sawford@gmail.com
Received Date: October 22, 2011; Accepted Date: December 12, 2011; Published Date: December 16, 2011
Citation: Sawford K, Robertson C, Gunawardena S, Stephen C (2011) Development and Application of a Framework for Emerging Infectious Disease Intelligence in Lower Resource Settings. J Bioterr Biodef S4:001. doi:10.4172/2157-2526.S4-001
Copyright: © 2011 Sawford K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
In 2005, World Health Organization member countries agreed to the revised International Health Regulations which require countries to detect, report, and respond to any event that may represent a public health emergency of international concern. Forecasting the risk posed by hazards, including incidents in animal populations, requires an intelligence-based approach. We propose an emerging infectious disease intelligence framework informed by literature from the fields of surveillance, epidemic intelligence, and military intelligence. This framework highlights the need for situational awareness and can be used to assess emerging infectious disease intelligence capacity in lower resource settings. To illustrate the utility of this framework we applied it to the Infectious Disease Surveillance and Analysis System, a mobile phone-based surveillance pilot project supplementing diagnostic laboratory-based surveillance in Sri Lanka. Application of the framework was feasible and useful in illuminating the strengths and deficits in the current surveillance infrastructure in Sri Lanka for emerging infectious disease early warning. The approach also demonstrated how a mobile phoned-based system could improve Sri Lanka’s emerging infectious disease intelligence capabilities. Finally, the framework allowed us to recommend steps to take in order to strengthen Sri Lanka’s emerging infectious disease early warning capacity, enabling more timely and complete identification of events in the animal population that could pose a human health risk.
