Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance ... - PHRplus

Roads, water sources, location of specific communities and other elements that could relate to thetransmission risk for the disease under investigation. For example, a map for neonatal tetanus wouldinclude locations of traditional birth attendants and health facilities where mothers deliver infants.Location of the patients’ residences or most relevant geographic characteristic for this disease orcondition (for example, by village, neighborhood, work camp, or refugee settlement. Another exampleis, when mapping patients during a meningitis outbreak, locate the school where the patients attend.)Other locations that are appropriate to the disease being investigated. (Please see the disease-specificguidelines in Section 9 for specific recommendations for analysing data by place.)4.9.3 Analyse data by personReview the case forms and line lists and compare the variables for each person suspected or confirmed tohave this disease or condition. For example, depending on the factors that must be considered in planning aspecific response, compare the total number and proportion of suspected and confirmed cases according to:Age or date of birthSexUrban and rural residencesImmunization statusInpatient and outpatient statusRisk factorsOutcome of the episode, for example, whether the patient survived, died or the status is not knownLaboratory resultsFinal classification of the caseOther variables relevant to this disease (death by age group, for example)Use disease-specific information to decide which variables to compare. For example, if information hasbeen collected about a measles outbreak, the age groupings that are targeted by the National Expanded Programmeon Immunizations should be used.4.10 Interpret analysis resultsReview the analysis results and make conclusions about the outbreak. For example: What was the causal agent of the outbreak? What was the source of infection? What was the transmission pattern? What control measures were implemented and to what effect?4.10.1 Interpret the time analysis resultsLook at the histogram and observe the shape of the epidemic curve. Draw conclusions about when exposureto the agent that caused the illness occurred, the source of infection and the related incubation period.Section 4: Investigate Reported Outbreaks and other Public Health Events51