New Guidelines for Outbreak Reporting

Situation reports are regular updates issued by health authorities to inform the public and other stakeholders about the latest developments in infectious disease Outbreaks. These reports are crucial for Public Health workers, elected officials, researchers, and the media. They provide important insights that can help guide actions to control the spread of disease.

During the early COVID-19 outbreak, information shared by different health authorities was essential. It helped communities understand the situation better and respond to the rising pandemic. However, there is currently no established set of guidelines on what and when jurisdictions should report. This lack of uniformity has led to inconsistencies in the information available across different regions during outbreaks.

Having consistent Reporting would improve the reliable sharing of information and aid decision-makers in preparing for and tackling outbreaks. To fill this gap, a group of Experts worked together to create recommendations on what health authorities should report during an outbreak. They also discussed how often to report this information and at what administrative level. The goal was to create a standard set of reporting items that all health authorities could follow.

#Best Practices for Outbreak Reporting

As part of this effort, a review of existing literature was conducted to see if there were any previous guidelines about reporting during outbreaks. The researchers found some papers that discussed key pieces of information to include but did not find any existing guidelines that directly conflicted with their proposed standards.

The research team used a structured approach to develop these guidelines, enlisting a steering committee composed of experts from various backgrounds including public health and academia. Due to scheduling challenges, most discussions took place in smaller groups or one-on-one meetings.

The team created a preliminary list of items to report, which included details like the number of new cases and deaths. This draft was shared with the steering committee for their input and suggestions. After refining the list, a Delphi panel was formed, consisting of experts who would help reach a consensus on the most important reporting items.

This panel included 45 experts, 35 of whom agreed to participate. They were asked to evaluate each item based on its importance and practicality using a scoring system. Items that scored high were included in the final recommendations, while those that scored low were excluded. The process involved several rounds of voting to ensure that all voices were heard, and a final meeting was held to agree on the last details.

#Key Reporting Items

The effort resulted in a final list of nine items health authorities should include in their situation reports:

1. The number of new Confirmed Cases during the previous reporting period.
2. The number of new hospital admissions related to the outbreak in confirmed cases during the previous reporting period.
3. The number of new deaths related to the outbreak in confirmed cases during the previous reporting period.
4. The total number of confirmed cases reported throughout the outbreak.
5. The total number of hospital admissions related to the outbreak in confirmed cases.
6. The total number of deaths related to the outbreak in confirmed cases.
7. Health authorities should aim to report at least weekly.
8. Reports should be made at the state or province level.
9. Reports should include breakdowns by sex, age group, and race/ethnicity when privacy can be protected.

#When to Use the Guidelines

The panel discussed when these reporting guidelines should be applied. They agreed that small outbreaks, such as a localized foodborne illness, might not require a public report. However, they emphasized that even moderate outbreaks should be reported to help nearby areas prepare.

The general consensus was that if an outbreak meets the criteria for international reporting under the International Health Regulations, the guidelines should apply. Public health authorities should also have the discretion to trigger these guidelines based on their local assessment of an outbreak.

#Defining Cases

An important aspect of reporting is defining what constitutes a confirmed case. The experts agreed that this definition should be flexible, as the ability to confirm cases may vary depending on the stage of the outbreak and the availability of tests. For instance, during the early days of an outbreak caused by a new pathogen, testing might not be widely available.

Consequently, the guidelines suggest that public health authorities can report probable or suspected cases when necessary. This flexibility allows authorities to provide useful information when confirming cases is difficult. Coordination among different levels of health authorities is important to ensure consistency in reporting.

#Additional Recommendations

While the primary recommendations set a minimum standard for reporting, health authorities can choose to provide more information. Additional suggestions include:

• Reporting the median time it takes to get test results.
• Providing details at the county level when privacy concerns can be managed.
• Reporting the onset date, sample collection date, and diagnosis date when applicable.

#Implications for Public Health

These guidelines aim to improve how health information is shared during outbreaks. By ensuring the public, media, researchers, and decision-makers have access to clear information, the goal is to facilitate a quicker and more effective response.

The need for these standards may evolve depending on the circumstances of each outbreak. Continuous coordination among public health authorities is encouraged to maintain consistent and comparable reporting.

Future efforts may include tailoring these reporting recommendations for specific diseases. The team behind the guidelines aims to align their work with other ongoing public health initiatives to further improve reporting practices.

#Limitations of the Guidelines

There are some limitations to the reporting guidelines. The participants involved in creating them may have been influenced by their experiences with recent outbreaks, which might not fully address the needs of future situations. Also, while collecting detailed individual data is valuable for in-depth analysis, it raises concerns about privacy and confidentiality.

Collecting information based on characteristics such as race and ethnicity needs to be approached carefully to protect vulnerable communities. Moreover, these guidelines serve as a minimum standard. Health authorities are encouraged to consider what additional data would be beneficial for their communities.

#Conclusion

These guidelines present a minimum standard for public health jurisdictions regarding what to include in regular outbreak reports. They outline essential reporting items, frequency, and the administrative level of reporting. The aim is to support timely and standardized communication about public health events that may impact communities. With these standards in place, health authorities can better inform the public and other stakeholders, ultimately enhancing preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks.