Defining and detecting malaria epidemics in the highlands of western Kenya.

摘要: Epidemic detection algorithms are being increasingly recommended for malaria surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. We present the results of applying three simple epidemic techniques to routinely collected longitudinal pediatric admissions data from health facilities highlands western Kenya late 1980s and 1990s. The tested were chosen because they could be feasibly implemented at facility level Assumptions these about normal distribution confidence intervals used define years also investigated. All identified two “epidemic” one sites. untransformed Cullen method with standard detected remaining sites but triggered many false alarms. performance methods is discussed comments made their appropriateness