LESSONS LEARNED FROM INTEGRATED SURVEILLANCE OF MEASLES AND RUBELLA IN THE CARIBBEAN

Monday, 27th of May 2013

[source]Journal of Infectious Diseases[|source]

Measles and Rubella are diseases of different aetiology and clinical progression. However, surveillance for both diseases can effectively be integrated. Full text description of a system that was designed to detect and investigate patients with fever and rash illness, and also test a blood specimen from each case investigated. Details of the lessons learnt are available at: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/204/suppl_2/S622.full

Abstract

The Caribbean sub region was one of the first areas to successfully integrate measles and rubella surveillance, and it can serve as an example to other sub regions on how to achieve similar success. The integrated surveillance system, established through strong political commitment by Caribbean countries, is coordinated by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC). The system, which became operational in January 2000, is designed to detect and investigate patients with fever and rash illness, and also test a blood specimen from each case investigated. During over 9 years of operation, 3733 cases were reported and investigated. Laboratory tests identified 2 imported cases of measles, 27 cases of rubella, 309 cases of dengue, and 260 cases of human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) infection. The lessons learned from the success of this integrated system indicate that the following factors are critical: strong political commitment, strong technical oversight from all levels within the health-care system, the use of proven tools or systems and technology for data collection and analysis, integration with other surveillance activities, continuing training, and continuing review and evaluation.