9.1 Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is the collection, the analysis, and the interpretation of data for the following reasons:

1. Monitoring changes in infectious agents.
2. Supporting health planning and allocating resources to the right places.
3. Identifying high-risk populations.
4. Evaluating the effectiveness of control and preventive healthcare measures.
5. Providing a history of disease activity for future reference.

Machine learning - when used on large volumes of data from a variety of sources allow for forecasting and risk assessment.

9.1.1 Reporting systems in Singapore

Medical practitioners (i.e., doctors) and labs are required to notify the government of any infectious diseases (under act MD131) via fax or via electronic means.

The data in the above paragraph is shared under the One Health framework (and spans the human, the animal, and the environmental aspects).

9.1.2 Surveillance systems in Singapore

The IDA² mandates notifications of all infectious diseases.

Here are more surveillance systems to note:

1. Sentinel surveillance

   Applies to emergency departments and polyclinics.

2. Severe Infectious Diseases of Possible Infectious Cause (i.e., SIDPIC) system

   This system investigates cases of severe illness with unknown origins among patients age 1 to 49.

3. Virological surveillance

   This applies to influenza, enteroviruses, and dengue viruses.

9.1.3 Dengue surveillance in Singapore

Figure 9.1: Risk Stratifications for Dengue in Singapore

Obviously, the main aim of dengue control is to keep Dengue cases as low as possible!

Figure 9.2: Dengue Management in Singapore

The above graphic shows several parts to Singapore’s attempt to keep dengue cases low.

Figure 9.3: Dengue Surveillance for Decision Support

Singapore has also erected a multitude of measures against mosquito vectors (i.e., the A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes) and dengue cases.

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2. IDA = Infectious Diseases Act↩︎