Citation

Meyer N, McMenamin J, Robertson C, Donaghy M, Allardice G, Cooper D. Epidemiol. Infect. 2007; 136(7): 876-885.

Affiliation

Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, UK. ( jim.mcmenamin@hps.scot.nhs.uk)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0950268807009132

PMID

17678556

PMCID

PMC2870879

Abstract

In 18 weeks, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) deployed a syndromic surveillance system to early-detect natural or intentional disease outbreaks during the G8 Summit 2005 at Gleneagles, Scotland. The system integrated clinical and non-clinical datasets. Clinical datasets included Accident & Emergency (A&E) syndromes, and General Practice (GPs) codes grouped into syndromes. Non-clinical data included telephone calls to a nurse helpline, laboratory test orders, and hotel staff absenteeism. A cumulative sum-based detection algorithm and a log-linear regression model identified signals in the data. The system had a fax-based track for real-time identification of unusual presentations. Ninety-five signals were triggered by the detection algorithms and four forms were faxed to HPS. Thirteen signals were investigated. The system successfully complemented a traditional surveillance system in identifying a small cluster of gastroenteritis among the police force and triggered interventions to prevent further cases.

Language: en