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Event-based surveillance (EBS) is defined as the organized collection, monitoring, assessment and interpretation of mainly unstructured ad hoc information regarding health events or risks, which may represent an acute risk to health. Both indicator-
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based and event-based surveillance components serve the early warning and response (EWAR) function of the public health surveillance system. The Framework for Event-based Surveillance offers guidance to public health practitioners seeking to implement EBS at each administrative level in healthier countries.
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The Manual for Parasitological Surveillance in Prevention of Reintroduction or Re-establishment of Malaria in Sri Lanka (2019) provides guidelines to health professionals on how to conduct effective malaria
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surveillance to prevent the reintroduction of the disease in Sri Lanka, which was certified malaria-free in 2016.
The manual outlines strategies for active and passive case detection, laboratory diagnosis, case investigation, foci investigation, and follow-up measures. It emphasizes targeted screening of high-risk populations, including travelers and migrant workers, and explains the importance of prompt reporting, accurate parasitological confirmation, and coordination between healthcare levels. The overall goal is to maintain Sri Lanka’s malaria-free status by ensuring early detection and rapid response to any imported or locally suspected malaria cases.
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The document “Strategic Framework for Strengthening Cross-Border Surveillance and Information Sharing in Africa” outlines a coordinated strategy developed by Africa CDC to improve public health surveil
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lance and collaboration across national borders in Africa. It addresses the challenge that infectious diseases often spread across borders due to population movement, trade, and migration, while surveillance systems and data-sharing mechanisms frequently remain nationally focused and fragmented.
The framework proposes strengthening regional coordination, harmonizing surveillance systems, enhancing information sharing between countries, and building laboratory and workforce capacity. It also emphasizes timely detection of cross-border health threats, joint outbreak investigations, and improved communication among Member States. Overall, the document aims to enhance preparedness, early warning systems, and collective response to public health threats across the African continent.
more
The document “Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience” presents a report by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to the World Health Assembly on global e
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fforts to improve preparedness and response to health emergencies. It reviews the implementation of the Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) framework and highlights lessons learned from recent crises such as COVID-19. The report describes international initiatives to strengthen global health governance, surveillance systems, laboratory networks, community protection measures, healthcare capacity and access to medical countermeasures like vaccines and diagnostics. It also discusses coordination of emergency responses, support for countries facing outbreaks or humanitarian crises, and the importance of international cooperation. In addition, the report emphasizes the need for sustainable and coordinated financing to strengthen global health security and ensure that countries can better prevent, detect and respond to future health threats.
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The document is a report by an expert group that presents a framework for improving future pandemic preparedness and emergency response, particularly in the context of India but with relevance to global health systems. It analyzes lessons learned fr
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om COVID-19 and past epidemics, identifies key weaknesses in areas such as governance, surveillance, data management, research, and coordination, and proposes a comprehensive strategy to address them. The report emphasizes the importance of early detection, strong public health infrastructure, coordinated governance, scientific innovation, and international collaboration. A central idea is the ability to respond effectively within the first 100 days of an outbreak by having systems, resources, and policies already in place. Overall, it aims to strengthen resilience and ensure faster, more efficient responses to future health crises.
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The document WHA70.16, adopted during the 70th World Health Assembly, outlines a global strategy for an integrated response to vector-borne diseases. It emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen national and global capacities for vector control amid
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rising threats such as insecticide resistance, climate change, and the spread of vectors like mosquitoes. Member States are urged to align their national strategies with WHO’s integrated approach, improve surveillance, promote research, and ensure cross-sector and cross-border collaboration. The WHO Director-General is requested to provide technical support, promote innovation, and monitor progress, with regular updates to future World Health Assemblies.
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This article describes WHO's efforts to combat a cholera outbreak in South Sudan in July 2017. The organization received 500,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) and was working with South Sudan's Ministry of Health to launch a vaccination campaign from July 28 to August 3, 2017. At the time, the
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country had reported 17,785 cholera cases and 320 deaths since the outbreak began in June 2016. The vaccination campaign targeted four counties with high transmission rates: Tonj East, Kapoeta South, Kapoeta North, and Kapoeta East. South Sudan was implementing an integrated approach to control cholera, combining patient care, surveillance, social mobilization, water and sanitation improvements, and vaccination. The article notes that approximately 6 million people in South Sudan were facing starvation, with food insecurity and drought exacerbating the risk of cholera spread as people resorted to using contaminated water sources.
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The study on health facility preparedness for cholera outbreak response in Cameroon evaluates the ability of healthcare facilities in four cholera-prone districts to manage cholera outbreaks. The findings highlight significant weaknesses, including
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limited surveillance systems, inadequate access to water, poor sanitation, and lack of essential medical supplies such as Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and cholera case management guidelines. Many health facilities also lacked trained personnel and proper waste disposal systems, increasing the risk of disease spread within healthcare centers. The study underscores the urgent need for improved hygiene infrastructure, better training, and resource allocation to enhance outbreak response and reduce cholera-related mortality.
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The WHO’s Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) is a tool used in emergencies such as conflicts or natural disasters to quickly detect and respond to disease outbreaks. It helps set up simple and reliable
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surveillance systems even in places without stable electricity or internet, using kits that include phones, laptops, and solar chargers. EWARS supports national health authorities during crises and can later be integrated into the regular health surveillance system.
more
The document “Strategic Framework for Strengthening Cross-Border Surveillance and Information Sharing in Africa” outlines a coordinated strategy developed by Africa CDC to improve public health surveil
...
lance and collaboration across national borders in Africa. It addresses the challenge that infectious diseases often spread across borders due to population movement, trade, and migration, while surveillance systems and data-sharing mechanisms frequently remain nationally focused and fragmented.
The framework proposes strengthening regional coordination, harmonizing surveillance systems, enhancing information sharing between countries, and building laboratory and workforce capacity. It also emphasizes timely detection of cross-border health threats, joint outbreak investigations, and improved communication among Member States. Overall, the document aims to enhance preparedness, early warning systems, and collective response to public health threats across the African continent.
more
The webpage “Health emergency preparedness, response and resilience” on the OpenWHO platform presents an online learning channel developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It provides educational resources and training materials aimed at
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strengthening knowledge and skills related to preparing for, responding to and recovering from health emergencies. The content introduces key concepts such as risk assessment, emergency coordination, surveillance systems, community engagement and resilient health systems. The courses are designed to help public-health professionals, responders and policymakers better understand how to prevent, detect and manage health threats and build stronger systems that can withstand future crises. Overall, the webpage serves as a global training resource to improve preparedness and resilience in public-health emergency management.
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The WHO handbook “Epidemiological Data Analysis for the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) in Humanitarian Emergencies” explains how to collect, analyse, interpret, and share health data during crises such as conflicts or natural d
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isasters. It is a practical guide for health and surveillance officers to detect disease outbreaks early and guide quick public health responses. The document outlines steps for managing data at different levels (local, regional, national), analysing disease trends by time, place, and person, and using indicators to monitor outbreak risks. It also provides methods for interpreting and communicating results clearly to decision-makers to support effective health interventions in emergencies.
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This document aims to provide global guidance on poliomyelitis (polio) surveillance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes as a technical complement to Polio eradication programme continuity, Immunization in the context of COVID-19 pandem
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ic frequently asked questions, and is aligned with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) commitment to support the COVID-19 pandemic response.
It highlights the decision making framework to guide the level of polio surveillance activities at country level including; the measures to put in place to ensure a minimum level of polio surveillance in the field and in the laboratory, and the trigger to return to normal polio function.
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2nd edition.This updated publication provides programme managers with a user-friendly tool that can: (i) analyse and draw conclusions from historic dengue datasets; (ii) identify appropriate alarm indicators that can predict forthcoming outbreaks at smaller spatial scales; and (iii) use these result
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s and analyses to build an early warning system to detect dengue outbreaks in real time and respond accordingly. This web-based tool can ensure enhanced, fast and secured communication between national and subnational levels, and standardized utilization of surveillance data.
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The document “Public Health Surveillance for Cholera – Guidance Document (2024)” provides practical recommendations for countries on how to design, implement, and strengthen cholera surveillance
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systems. Developed by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), it outlines the minimum requirements for detecting, confirming, reporting, and monitoring cholera cases and outbreaks.
The guidance explains the core functions of cholera surveillance, including case detection, laboratory testing (such as RDTs, culture, and PCR), routine data collection, outbreak notification, case and field investigation, data analysis, and performance monitoring. It also describes how surveillance strategies should be adapted depending on whether a country is experiencing no outbreak, clustered transmission, or community transmission.
Overall, the document aims to help countries establish adaptive, fit-for-purpose surveillance systems that enable early outbreak detection, guide timely response measures, and support long-term cholera control and elimination efforts.
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The report offers 20 top recommendations for getting ahead of future outbreaks in Yemen and similarly complex humanitarian settings.
In 2015, Yemen was declared a Level 3 emergency by the UN, kicking into gear the highest level of humanitarian support. A massive cholera outbreak followed, leading t
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o 1 million suspected cases in 2 waves from September 2016-July 2018.
“We largely know ‘what to do’ to control cholera, but context-specific practices on ‘how to do it’ in order to surmount challenges to coordination, logistics, insecurity, access and politics remain needed,” the report states.
While the response improved between the 2 waves, there were gaps. For one, Yemen’s history of cholera should have triggered a heavy focus on pre-planning for an epidemic, such as stockpiling supplies and doubling down on community-based surveillance, the report fou
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The WHO Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) Target Product Profile outlines the key requirements for developing improved cholera RDTs. It highlights the need for fast, accurate, and easy-to-use tests for early outbreak detection in resource-limited settings. The document sets desired and acceptable
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performance criteria, including high sensitivity and specificity, rapid results (under 15 minutes), and usability by non-laboratory personnel. The tests should be affordable, stable in extreme conditions, and require minimal training. The goal is to enhance cholera surveillance and outbreak response, ensuring quick containment and improved public health outcomes.
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Paving the Way for One Health: Highlights of the Global Programme Pandemic Prevention and Response, One Health
Haensel L., Argote K., Stübel E.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ
(2024)
CC
The document “Paving the Way for One Health: Highlights of the Global Programme Pandemic Prevention and Response, One Health” presents the work and achievements of the global programme implemented by the German development agency GIZ to strength
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en pandemic prevention using the One Health approach. The report highlights how collaboration between the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors can help detect and prevent zoonotic diseases before they spread. It describes activities carried out in partner countries, such as improving surveillance systems, strengthening laboratory capacities, supporting cross-sector cooperation, and building the skills of health professionals. The document also showcases practical examples and project results that demonstrate how integrated One Health strategies contribute to better preparedness and more effective responses to future health threats. Overall, the report illustrates how international cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches can reduce the risk of pandemics and improve global health security.
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Representative, quality, timely and continuous genetic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is critical to the COVID-19 outbreak response. This document provides practical guidance to Global Influenza
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Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) laboratories and other relevant national laboratories to move beyond virus detection to genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive materials obtained from sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI), acute respiratory infection (ARI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). It contains considerations on sample selection for sequencing, numbers of viruses to be sequenced, metadata and timeliness for sharing genetic sequence data (GSD) and opportunities for technical support.
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The webpage ”H5 Reference Laboratories” on the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) site describes a network of specialized laboratories designated by the World Health O
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rganization to support global influenza monitoring — particularly for H5 subtype avian influenza viruses.
It explains that these reference laboratories perform high-level testing, characterization, and sharing of influenza virus samples, including genetic sequencing and antigenic analysis. Their role is to help detect and assess influenza virus strains of public health concern (especially H5 strains with pandemic potential), support vaccine strain selection, and provide technical guidance and capacity building to national influenza centers and other laboratories. The page highlights the importance of this global laboratory network in strengthening early warning, risk assessment, and preparedness for influenza outbreaks and pandemics.
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