Evaluation of the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System in Singapore 2011-2012

Authors

  • Pengiran Hishamuddin Ministry of Health, Singapore , Singapore.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5102

Abstract

We evaluated the Singapore Ministry of Health's sentinel surveillance system for influenza virus, which included the monitoring of virological samples from patients with influenza-like illness seen at government primary care clinics and private general practitoner clinics in 2011-12. Using a systematic approach, we analysed weekly data collected for the full two year period from 2011-12. Criteria applied for evaluation were based on the US Centers for Disease Control's Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems, and included quality of the data, acceptability and geographic representativeness. The current surveillance system is satisfactory but could be enhanced by focusing on strategies to improve its acceptability and representativeness. We recommend enhancing quality of the data submitted through further engagement and information sharing with stakeholders involved.

Author Biography

Pengiran Hishamuddin, Ministry of Health, Singapore , Singapore.

Dr Pengiran Hishamuddin is an Assistant Director with the Communicable Diseases Division in the Ministry of Health, Singapore. He oversees the surveillance, epidemiology, prevention and control programmes for communicable diseases, including the investigation and management of cases and outbreaks of infectious diseases in Singapore. Apart from this, he is involved in matters pertaining to Border Health and the One-Health Initiative in Singapore. In addition he assists in the coordination of the Singapore Field Epidemiology Training Programme and is a part-time practising clinician in infectious diseases. He studied medicine at the University of Nottingham in the UK and worked in emergency medicine before pursuing public health and epidemiology. He was a Fulbright Scholar and subsequently obtained a Masters of Public Health in epidemiology from Emory University. He has previously worked with the Ministry of Health in Brunei Darussalam and has been involved with ASEAN, WHO and UN on various initiatives related to communicable diseases. Dr Hishamuddin research interests are mainly related to field epidemiology, surveillance and communicable diseases in particular emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

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Published

2014-03-09

How to Cite

Hishamuddin, P. (2014). Evaluation of the Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System in Singapore 2011-2012. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5102

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations