What is Epidemic Intelligence?
What is known as Epidemic Intelligence (EI) is the cycle of organized and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of information from all sources to detect, verify and investigate potential health risks.
Key facts and statistics
Annually, approximately 24,000 signals of potential events are screened by PAHO, with 5,000 of these further analyzed and 160 followed upon (3 per week on average).
The EMS recorded 2,381 events for the Region of the Americas from 2001 to 2022. In 2022 alone, out of 483 events registered by WHO, 131 (27%) were monitored and reported by PAHO, making the Americas Region the WHO Region with the highest number of events recorded.
Of the 131 events recorded in 2022 in the Americas, 108 were substantiated events reported in 33 countries and territories. Of the substantiated events, 91 (84%) were due to infectious diseases, 11 (10%) were product-related, 4 (4%) were undetermined, 1 (1%) was chemical-related, and 1 (1%) was radionuclear-related.
Epidemic Intelligence in the Americas
In the Americas region, epidemic intelligence is carried out by both PAHO/WHO and its Member States.
First, PAHO, WHO, public health authorities and researchers collect data from many sources including Ministries of health, national institutes of public health, WHO collaborating centers, civilian and military laboratories, academic institutes, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Then, analyze all together to detect, assess, characterize, monitor and respond to health conditions, as well as related risk factors.
Throughout the process of gathering data and disseminating information, risk assessments are routinely carried out to establish the potential impact of an event on human health, the risk of spread, and the related resource implications for mitigation.
Once a public health risk has been detected, an effective management process is essential to continuously monitor and assess its status, share information, and support response activities when and where needed. WHO’s Event Management System (EMS) is the central electronic system for entering, accessing, and managing information for all potential and substantiated events. The EMS records each event’s details, official communications, WHO assessments and risk analysis, and decisions.
A shared responsibility
Member States' transparency and PAHO's capacity to maintain communication with National Focal Points are crucial. To ensure a comprehensive picture of threats and risks to global health security, WHO gathers information from a variety of sources, both formal and informal. Therefore, PAHO’s capacity to provide actionable information and technical advice to national authorities about public health events that could pose a threat to global health security depends on the timely notification and transparency of Member States in sharing information with PAHO as well as on PAHO’s capacity to maintain communication 24/7 with the National Focal Points (NFPs).
