Sino-Dutch joint activity under the Agreement on cooperation in the field of Healthcare and Public Health between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands and the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China
Collaborative project between the People’s Republic of China and the Netherlands - Assessing and responding to outbreaks and potential threats: (syndromic) infectious disease surveillance in China and the Netherlands |
Traditional surveillance, mostly based on laboratory-confirmed notifications is an important tool for
preparedness and response in the area of infectious diseases by providing insight in trends in incidence and risks for populations. In order to meet the new requirements of detecting (unknown) emerging outbreaks rapidly or providing timely information about the health impact of an outbreak in the population, syndromic surveillance based on signs and symptoms or people’s behaviour can supplement traditional surveillance. Syndromic surveillance has been explored in different countries around the world over the past decade, including China and the Netherlands. Under the proposed activity, the Chinese and Dutch experiences and skills will be exchanged for mutual benefit. By exploring pitfalls such as low specificity and best practices such as timeliness, flexibility and cost effectiveness, the surveillance systems in both countries can be strengthened in order to allow early detection and timely public health impact assessment of potential infectious disease threats and a rapid response to (impending) epidemics. |
Objective
To further develop the initial Sino-Dutch mapping exercise on (syndromic) surveillance into a comprehensive inventory of experiences and good practices as a prerequisite of further exploration of
potential pathways and applications towards comprehensive implementation of syndromic surveillance systems.
The Dutch team (RIVM and Maastricht University) intends to further explore and collaborate with
Chinese counterparts (China CDC) in the field of assessing how and when syndromic surveillance can strengthen early warning and response. The initial focus will be to identify areas of common interest regarding infectious disease monitoring, assessment of potential threats and the mechanisms leading towards a proper response: areas in which knowledge and experience can be shared.
potential pathways and applications towards comprehensive implementation of syndromic surveillance systems.
The Dutch team (RIVM and Maastricht University) intends to further explore and collaborate with
Chinese counterparts (China CDC) in the field of assessing how and when syndromic surveillance can strengthen early warning and response. The initial focus will be to identify areas of common interest regarding infectious disease monitoring, assessment of potential threats and the mechanisms leading towards a proper response: areas in which knowledge and experience can be shared.
Topics to explore
During the last two years expert meetings to prepare a Sino-Dutch partnership on syndromic surveillance (as proposed here) have identified core topics and issues for a joint effort to further develop syndromic surveillance towards more comprehensive implementation. The choice of topics is
based on experience on both sides, where collaboration would enable the identification of best practice and the improvement of the robustness of systems also taking advantage of the differences in (public) health systems, scales and treatment seeking behaviour in both partner countries.
These four (syndromic) surveillance topics are:
a) Influenza-like illness surveillance.
b) Gastroenteritis surveillance.
c) Mortality monitoring.
d) Situational awareness (rapid assessment of (or absence of) health impact from different kinds
of events, e.g., mass gatherings)
A fifth topic has been identified as highly relevant and with a growing importance that would require
further research: the role of syndromic surveillance as one component in an integrated surveillance of
Antimicrobial Resistance. This topic is still highly explorative in nature but needs high attention as it
not only affects the exchange of goods and persons between the two countries but also requires new
approaches and more comprehensive methods for surveillance.
Project time: 2013- ongoing
based on experience on both sides, where collaboration would enable the identification of best practice and the improvement of the robustness of systems also taking advantage of the differences in (public) health systems, scales and treatment seeking behaviour in both partner countries.
These four (syndromic) surveillance topics are:
a) Influenza-like illness surveillance.
b) Gastroenteritis surveillance.
c) Mortality monitoring.
d) Situational awareness (rapid assessment of (or absence of) health impact from different kinds
of events, e.g., mass gatherings)
A fifth topic has been identified as highly relevant and with a growing importance that would require
further research: the role of syndromic surveillance as one component in an integrated surveillance of
Antimicrobial Resistance. This topic is still highly explorative in nature but needs high attention as it
not only affects the exchange of goods and persons between the two countries but also requires new
approaches and more comprehensive methods for surveillance.
Project time: 2013- ongoing
