Virtual surveillance of communicable diseases: a 20-year experience in France

摘要: Inserm has developed, since 1984, an information system based on a computer network of physicians in France. It allows for constitution large databases diseases, with individual description cases, and to explore some aspects the mathematical theory communicable diseases. We developed user-friendly interfaces remote data entry GIS tools providing real-time atlas epidemiologic situation any location. The continuous ongoing surveillance is constituted about 1200 sentinel voluntary unpaid investigators. studied their motivation, reasons either withdrawal or compliance using survival analyses. implemented early warning systems outbreak detection time-space forecasting. conducted epidemiological surveys investigating outbreaks. Large available time space series allowed us calibrate synchronism influenza epidemics, test assumption panmixing susceptibles-infectious-removed type models study role closing school morbidity mortality elderly. More than 250 000 cases influenza, 150 acute diarrheas, 35,000 patients whom HIV tests have been prescribed by general practitioners 25,000 chickenpox collected. Detection regional diarrhea outbreaks forecasting epidemic trends three weeks ahead are currently broadcasted French media published Sentiweb weekly basis. Age-cohort-period assessed field effectiveness mass immunization strategies against measles country. Case-control studies more sets diarrheas matched controls showed calicivirus rotavirus as probable major causes gastroenteritis during recurrent widespread winter An age-specific model children disease transmission susceptible parents grandparents. High level between epidemics demonstrated, at (in France) France USA. designation our lab WHO collaborating center electronic stimulates development global monitoring operational that now (FluNet), human animal rabies (RABNET). Extension syndromic needed world improving capacities response emerging