Electronic School Absenteeism System for Multiple Disease Surveillance in Hong Kong

Authors

  • Dennis Ip The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Eric H.Y. Lau The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • Teresa So The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lai-ming Ho The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Bejamin J. Cowling The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Gabriel Leung The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5084

Abstract

Surveillance systems utilizing early indicator of disease activity would be useful for monitoring community disease pattern and facilitating timely decision making on public health interventions in an evidence-based manner. We explored the feasibility and practicability of establishing an electronic school absenteeism surveillance system in Hong Kong for monitoring influenza-like illness (ILI) and other emerging diseases, e.g. hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), using automatically captured data employing smart card technology. Preliminary data show that ILI-specific absenteeism rates reached their peaks 1-3 weeks ahead of the hospital laboratory surveillance data and HFMD-specific absenteeism rates were in phase with syndromic surveillance system from sentinel practitioners.

Author Biography

Eric H.Y. Lau, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Dr. Eric Lau is an assistant professor in School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong. He is interested in the methodology and application of statistical and mathematical modelling of infectious diseases. He is currently working on infectious disease surveillance, statistical and mathematical modelling of tuberculosis, scarlet fever and and influenza in human and poultry.

Downloads

Published

2014-03-09

How to Cite

Ip, D., Lau, E. H., So, T., Ho, L.- ming, Cowling, B. J., & Leung, G. (2014). Electronic School Absenteeism System for Multiple Disease Surveillance in Hong Kong. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5084

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations