A surveillance model for human avian influenza with a comprehensive surveillance system for local-priority communicable diseases in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

The government of Indonesia and the Japan International Cooperation Agency launched a three-yearproject (2008-2011) to strengthen the surveillance of human avian influenza cases through a comprehensive sur-veillance system of local-priority communicable diseases in South Sulawesi Province. Based on findings from pre-liminary and baseline surveys, the project developed a technical protocol for surveillance and response activitiesin local settings, consistent with national guidelines. District surveillance officers (DSOs) and rapid-response-teammembers underwent training to improve surveillance and response skills. A network-based early warning andresponse system for weekly reports and a short message service (SMS) gateway for outbreak reports, both encom-passing more than 20 probable outbreak diseases, were introduced to support existing paper-based systems. Twofurther strategies were implemented to optimize project outputs: a simulation exercise and a DSO-centered model.As a result, the timeliness of weekly reports improved from 33% in 2009 to 82% in 2011. In 2011, 65 outbreakswere reported using the SMS, with 64 subsequent paper-based reports. All suspected human avian influenza out-breaks up to September 2011 were reported in the stipulated format. A crosscutting approach using human avianinfluenza as the core disease for coordinating surveillance activities improved the overall surveillance system forcommunicable diseases. Copyright © 2012 by The Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine.