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Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2016;63(4):209-14. doi: 10.11236/jph.63.4_209.
Early detection and response for measles and rubella cases through the (Nursery) School Absenteeism Surveillance System in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Watanabe M1 Kurita J Takagi T Nagata N Nagasu N Sugawara T Ohkusa Y.
Abstract
Objectives In Ibaraki Prefecture all (nursery) schools have joined the (Nursery) School Absenteeism Surveillance System (hereafter denoted as (N)SASSy) which is operated by the Japan School Health Association to monitor the prevalence of infectious diseases the early detection and response for outbreaks and prevention of large outbreaks. Prefectural government officers also utilize it as a control measure for infectious diseases. In particular when cases of measles or rubella are registered (N)SASSy sends e-mails automatically to prefectural government officers to activate control measures. This paper summarizes administrative responses by prefectural government officers for measles or rubella cases using (N)SASSy and discusses the future challenges. Methods We summarized registration detection and first response data for measles or rubella cases in (N)SASSy and compared the number of detected and reported cases enforced by the Infectious Diseases Control Law from January 1 2013 to December 31 2014.Results The public health center questioned hospitals/clinics and (nursery) schools about all registered measles or rubella cases in (N)SASSy on the same day to check the entered information. In the past 2 years there were 5 measles and 56 rubella cases in 2013 and 1measles and 19 rubella cases in 2014 registered with (N)SASSy. All cases were checked and investigated by the public health center. Of all cases detected by (N)SASSy 7 rubella cases in 2013 and 1 rubella case in 2014 were reported based on the law. No measles cases were reported in the 2 years. The results of investigations and laboratory tests were given as feedback to the (nursery) schools. If the case did not case definition determined by the law we changed the status in (N)SASSy to suspected or discarded cases. Conclusion Since (N)SASSy assists prefectural government officers with earlier detection of and response for infectious diseases it definitely contributes to infection control. Immediate feedback of the laboratory test results to the (nursery) schools was also useful to confirm cases of measles or rubella. As data entry in (nursery) schools is needed for stable operation and utilization of (N)SASSy it is important that workshops for (N)SASSy are held for (nursery) school teachers every year to maintain accuracy. Our future challenges include the coordination among (nursery) schools hospitals/clinics and prefectural government and their applications for infection control.