Early Detection of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern through Undiagnosed Disease Reports in ProMED-Mail

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Feb;26(2):336-339. doi: 10.3201/eid2602.191043.

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all reports in ProMED-mail that were initially classified as undiagnosed diseases during 2007-2018. We identified 371 cases reported in ProMED-mail; 34% were later diagnosed. ProMED-mail could be used to supplement other undiagnosed disease surveillance systems worldwide.

Keywords: Disease Outbreak News; ProMED-mail; World Health Organization; early detection; emerging infectious diseases; global health; health security; international health regulations; outbreaks; public health emergencies of international concern; surveillance; undiagnosed diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Emergencies
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Public Health
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Undiagnosed Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Undiagnosed Diseases / prevention & control