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Influenza surveillance in Australia: we need to do more than count.

Authors :
Lambert SB
Faux CE
Grant KA
Williams SH
Bletchly C
Catton MG
Smith DW
Kelly HA
Source :
The Medical journal of Australia [Med J Aust] 2010 Jul 05; Vol. 193 (1), pp. 43-5.
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

Laboratory-confirmed influenza is a nationally notifiable disease in Australia. According to notification data, Queensland has experienced more severe influenza seasons than other states and territories. However, this method ignores available denominator data: the number of laboratory tests performed. We propose that negative results of laboratory tests for influenza should be made notifiable, alongside laboratory-confirmed disease, and used to calculate the proportion of positive test results in real-time. Using data from the public health pathology services of three Australian states - Queensland Health laboratories, the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and Western Australia's PathWest - for 2004 to 2008, we show that incorporating laboratory-negative test data into national surveillance data would add to and improve our understanding of influenza epidemiology.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0025-729X
Volume :
193
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Medical journal of Australia
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
20618114
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03741.x