Features of GeoSentinel
- The communications and data collection network comprises 40 travel/tropical medical ISTM clinics operating in co-operation with the US CDC.
- Sentinel sites are located on all 6 continents.
- Sites are ideally situated to effectively detect geographical and temporal trends in morbidity amongst travelers.
- Sentinel data provides a sample of disease agents in over 230 countries.
Accomplishments of GeoSentinel
- At present over 74000 patient records have been submitted enabling the monitoring of trends in emerging infectious diseases.
- Novel analytic algorithms have allowed the utilization of aggregated data on trends, risk factors, outcomes and geographical patterns of disease to develop educational priorities for travellers’ health.
The capability of a rapid worldwide query-response has been shown. Electronic communications infrastructure has identified imported traveller-related cases/outbreaks such as SARS from multiple locations, Hajj meningitis from Singapore, first ever dengue from Easter Island and schistosomiasis from Tanzania.
-The network is able to provide rapid dissemination of alerts and advisories resulting from on-going relationships with the ISTM, CDC, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, ProMedMail and TropNet Europ.
Future Plans for GeoSentinel
- GeoSentinel aims to expand existing partnerships with national and supranational entities and networks.
- Geographic coverage is hoped to be increased by adding sites in strategic locations including major international air traffic hubs.
- Demographic coverage is to be increased by adding sites with key populations including military, diplomatic, missionary, and commercial patient populations.
- Improvements will be made to electronic infrastructure to enhance real time simultaneous e-conferencing with all global sites in preparation for global disease outbreak or bio-terrorism threats.
The AUCKLAND Site
WORLDWISE AUCKLAND was selected as a GeoSentinel site in 1997. To be eligible for selection, the clinic fulfilled the selection attributes expected of sites which relate to:
- Clinic facilities
- Clinicians
- Patient population
- Geographical location
Since its involvement, the AUCKLAND Site has made a small but constant contribution to the GeoSentinel database.
Approximately 600 post-travel patient records have been submitted with 720 final diagnoses entered.
However, as this is the only site located in New Zealand and the Pacific, the aim is to be able to contribute in a greater way to the network. Ideally a doubling of post-travel cases submitted per annum would give a better representation of travel related morbidity in the region.
Support for GeoSentinel Required
In order to make a more significant contribution to GeoSentinel, WORLDWISE AUCKLAND and HAMILTON Centres welcome referral of any post-travel cases for assessment.
For further information please contact:
Dr Annemarie HERN
Travel Health Physician, WORLDWISE AUCKLAND.