Applying cusum-based methods for the detection of outbreaks of Ross River virus disease in Western Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The automated monitoring of routinely collected disease surveillance data has the potential to ensure that important changes in disease incidence are promptly recognised. However, few studies have established whether the signals produced by automated monitoring methods correspond with events considered by epidemiologists to be of public health importance. This study investigates the correspondence between retrospective epidemiological evaluation of notifications of Ross River virus (RRv) disease in Western Australia, and the signals produced by two cumulative sum (cusum)-based automated monitoring methods.

Methods

RRv disease case notification data between 1991 and 2004 were assessed retrospectively by two experienced epidemiologists, and the timing of identified

SUBMITTER: Watkins RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542357 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature