The CARE Telematics Network for the Surveillance of Influenza in Europe

R. Snacken; M. Bensadon; A. Strauss

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1634617

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 1995; 34(05): 518-522
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634617

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

The CARE Telematics Network for the Surveillance of Influenza in Europe

Authors

R. Snacken

¹Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Brussels, Belgium
M. Bensadon

²Centre Inter-universitaire du Traitement de l’Information (CITI 2), Université René Descartes, Paris, France
A. Strauss

²Centre Inter-universitaire du Traitement de l’Information (CITI 2), Université René Descartes, Paris, France

Abstract

Abstract:

Since the 1950s, national networks for the surveillance of influenza have been progressively implemented in several countries. New epidemiological arguments have triggered changes in order to increase the sensitivity of existent early warning systems and to strengthen the communications between European networks. The WHO project CARE Telematics, which collects clinical and virological data of nine national networks and sends useful information to public health administrations, is presented. From the results of the 1993-94 season, the benefits of the system are discussed. Though other telematics networks in this field already exist, it is the first time that virological data, absolutely essential for characterizing the type of an outbreak, are timely available by other countries. This argument will be decisive in case of occurrence of a new strain of virus (shift), such as the Spanish flu in 1918. Priorities are now to include other existing European surveillance networks.

Keywords:

Surveillance - Influenza - Telematics - Epidemiology

Full Text

References

References
1 Hannoun C, Dab W, Cohen JM. A new influenza surveillance system in France: the Ile-de-France “GROG” 1. Principles and methodology. Eur J Epidem 1989; 5: 285-93.
2 Glezen WP. Serous morbidity and mortality associated with influenza epidemics. Epidemiol Rev 1982; 4: 25-44.
3 Lui KJ, Kendal AP. Impact of influenza epidemics on mortality in the US from October 1972 to May 1985. Am J Publ Health 1987; 77: 712-6.
4 Lévy E, Lafarge H. L’evaluation du coot de la grippe dans la France contemporaine. Laboratoire d’économie et de gestion des organisations de santé. Université XI-Dauphine; 1987
5 Collins SD. Review and study of illness and medical care with special reference to longtime trends. Publ Health Monogr 1957; 48: 1-86.
6 Anonymous. Retrospective survey of the 1957 epidemic of Asian influenza. Part I. J Coll Gen Pract 1958; 1: 254-60.
7 The Dutch sentinel practice network; relevance for public health policy. Studies from the continous morbidity registration in The Netherlands. Bartelds AIM, Fracheboud J, Van der Zee J. eds. Utrecht: Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (NIVEL); 1989
8 Langmuir AD. The surveillance of communicable diseases of national importance. N Engl J Med 1963; 268: 182-92.
9 Serfling RE. Methods for current statistical analysis of excess pneumonia-influenza deaths. Publ Health Rep 1963; 78: 494-506.
10 Thacker SB, Choi K, Brachman PS. The surveillance of infectious diseases. JAMA 1983; 249: 1181-5.
11 Hannoun C, Aymard M, Ménarès J, Martin-Bouyer G. Le système de surveillance de la grippe en France. Rev Epidém et Santé Publ. 1977; 25: 477-57.
12 Goldstein IF, Block G. A method for surveillance of influenza epidemics. Am J Publ Health 1976; 66: 992-3.
13 Dab W, Quenel P, Cohen JM, Hannoun C. A new influenza surveillance system in France: the Ile-de-France “GROG” 2. Validity of indicators (1984-1989). Eur J Epidem 1991; 7: 579-87.
14 Costagliola D, Flahaut A, Galinec D, Garnerin P, Menares J, Valleron AJ. A routine tool for detection and assessment of epidemics of influenza-like syndromes in France. Am J Publ Health 1991; 81: 97-9.
15 Snacken R, Lion J, Van Casteren V. et al. Five years of sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infections (1985-1990): the benefits of an early warning system. Eur J Epidem 1992; 8: 485-90.
16 Van Casteren V, Leurquin P. Eurosentinel: Development of an international sentinel network of general practitioners. Meth Inform Med 1992; 31: 147-52.
17 Carrat F, Valleron AJ. Epidemiologic mapping using the “Kriging” method: application to an influenza-like illness epidemic in France. Am J Epidem 1992; 135: 1293-300.
18 Valleron AJ, Bouvet E, Gamerin P. et al. A computer network for the surveillance of communicable diseases: the French experiment. Am J Publ Health 1986; 76: 1289-92.
19 Valleron AJ, Gamerin P. Computer networking as a tool for public health surveillance: the French experiment. MMWR 1992; 41: 101-10.
20 Kilbourne E. Informatics in Public Health surveillance: current issues and future perspectives. MMWR 1992; 41: 91-9.
21 Friede A, Reid JA, Ory HW. CDC WONDER: a comprehensive on-line public health information system of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Am J Publ Health 1993; 83: 1289-94.
22 Sprenger MJW, Kempen BM, Hannoun C, Masurel N. Electronic influenza surveillance. Lancet 1992; 339: 874.
23 Snacken R, Capet F, Stroobant A. Usage du videotex en sante publique. Techn Sante 1993; 14: 47-50.
24 dBase IV V 2.0. Borland International 1988; 1992
25 Oracle V 6.0.. Oracle Corporation 1979; 1992
26 Sql*Forms V 3.0.. Oracle Corporation 1979; 1992
27 Sencer DJ. Future directions for surveillance. MMWR 1992; 41: 197-9.
28 Assad F, Cockburn WC, Sundaresan TK. Use of excess mortality from respiratory diseases in the study of influenza. Bull Wld Hlth Org 1973; 49: 219-33.
29 Lobet MP, Stroobant A, Mertens R. et al. Tool for validation of the network of sentinel general practitioners in the Belgian health care system. Int J Epidem 1987; 16: 612-8.
30 Ghendon Y. Surveillance de la grippe. Bull OMS 1991; 69: 649-56.
31 Zuckerman MA, Cox R, Taylor J, Wood J, Haaheim L, Oxford J. Rapid immune response to influenza vaccination. Lancet 1993; 342: 1113.
32 Hannoun C. Europe preparing to face an influenza pandemic. Eur J Epidem 1994; 10: 449-50.
33 McIntosh K, Halonen P, Ruuskanen O. Report of a workshop on respiratory viral infections: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Clin Infect Dis 1993; 16: 151-64.
34 Flahaut A, Letrait S, Blin P, Hazout S, Ménarès J, Valleron AJ. Modelling the 1985 influenza epidemic in France. Statist Med 1988; 7: 1147-55.
35 Fleming DM, Cross KW. Respiratory syncytial virus or influenza?. Lancet 1993; 342: 1507-10.
36 Fleming DM, Cross KW, Crombie DL, Lancashire RJ. Respiratory illness and mortality in England and Wales. Eur J Epidem 1993; 9: 571-6.
37 Chomel JJ, Thouvenot D, Onno M, Gourreau JM, Aymard M. Rapid diagnosis of influenza infection by NP antigen using an immunocapture ELISA test. J Virol Meth 1989; 25: 81-92.
38 Chomel JJ, Pardon D, Thouvenot D, Allard JP, Aymard M. Comparison between three methods for direct diagnosis of influenza and the conventional isolation procedure. Biologicals 1991; 19: 287-92.
39 Sprenger MJW, Mulder PGH, Beyer WEP, Masurel N. Relation of mortality to morbidity parameters: Netherlands 1970-1989. Int J Epidem 1991; 20: 1118-24.
40 Birkhead G, Ghorha TL, Root S, Klaucke DN, Gibbs NJ. Timeliness of national reporting of communicable diseases: the experience of the national electronic telecommunications system for surveillance. Am J Publ Health 1991; 81: 1313-5.