Introduction
An early warning system is vital for informing people about possible dangers before they occur, enabling them to take preventative action to lessen possible harm. Although these methods are frequently used to forecast natural disasters like hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, their use in anticipating infectious disease outbreaks has received less attention.
Giving public health officials and the general public advance notice about the possibility of a disease epidemic in a particular location is the main goal of a disease early warning system. This makes it possible for a wider variety of reaction choices. However, lead time against prediction confidence trade-offs frequently limits the efficacy of early warning systems.
Looking for early disease occurrences in a community or animals can help anticipate when an outbreak will occur. This indicates that an outbreak is likely to occur soon, but it leaves little time to prepare.
Examining the surroundings and weather is an additional method. A disease may occasionally spread more readily under specific circumstances. However, pinpointing an outbreak's precise time and location is difficult based solely on environmental factors.
Like weather services alert people to impending storms, a multi-step warning system that utilizes environmental cues can work as an early warning system for possible disease outbreaks and facilitate proactive planning. This strategy enables flexible planning as new information becomes available and early readiness. With this method, health professionals can evaluate public costs and hazards and decide on the best action to stop the spread of illness.
What Is EWAR?
Early warning, alert, and response is referred to as EWAR. It is similar to having a system to promptly identify and address any indications of a public health problem. This might be anything from an environmental hazard to a disease outbreak. EWAR's primary objective is to identify these issues early on and take swift action to protect people's health and safety. It is essential to be alert and safeguard public health.
What Is EWARS?
Diseases have the potential to spread quickly during emergencies, such as natural disasters or conflicts, which can worsen the situation. A strong disease monitoring system is essential for early outbreak detection to reduce this risk. Setting up such monitoring systems in emergencies is made easy and affordable by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) early warning, alert, and response system (EWARS).
With EWARS, illness outbreaks can be quickly identified, allowing immediate intervention to stop the spread of the disease and save lives. It serves as a vital instrument for keeping an eye on and reacting to health risks in times of emergency, similar to an early warning system designed especially for disease surveillance under difficult conditions.
What Are the Components of EWARS?
EWARS in a box, which functions as a portable surveillance and response system, is useful for monitoring disease trends, particularly in isolated locations lacking access to dependable internet or electricity.
There are sixty laptops and mobile phones within the box, along with a local server. These gadgets gather, organize, and report on disease data. There is a solar generator and chargers to power them up to function even without continuous electricity.
EWARS is utilized in conjunction with the national disease surveillance system during times of emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) works with Ministries of Health and other health partners to train local health workers to use the system. Following the emergency, EWARS was reintegrated into the national system.
How Does EWARS Facilitate Early Detection and Response During Emergencies?
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Early Warning - Based on their monitoring plan, early warning systems use EWARS mobile to collect data using pre-set forms. Based on this data, they automatically produce weekly reports about diseases. Additionally, they use text messaging to promptly alert health institutions to any worrying alerts and remind them when reports are delayed.
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Alert - Alerts are automatically triggered by EWARS when predetermined thresholds are exceeded based on the user's needs. When an alarm is generated, immediate notifications are sent out through email or SMS (short message service) within the EWARS program. After receiving alerts, EWARS mobile is used by rapid response teams (RRT), who are usually the first responders. The datahub provides notifications that may be seen and updated for thorough risk assessments. Furthermore, there is a smooth integration between the alert system and laboratory surveillance. Case investigation results are gathered and uploaded to alerts, and laboratory users swiftly update results and notify field staff immediately.
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Response - Even without an internet connection, EWARS may collect comprehensive case data after verifying a disease epidemic. Users can arrange data into tables, charts, and maps for individualized study using the desktop software online or the datahub offline. Daily outbreak bulletins can then be automatically generated using this analysis or the raw data. Moreover, if there is a need to share anonymized data with partners, EWARS can remove identifying information from the data.
What Makes EWARS Essential in Emergencies?
In times of emergency, like natural catastrophes or extensive disease outbreaks, the customary means of monitoring health issues may not function at all or may not function adequately. This poses a serious concern since it is difficult to respond appropriately and stop more individuals from becoming ill or dying in the absence of knowledge about what is happening.
Thus, the early warning, alert, and response system, or EWARS, aims to establish a mechanism for promptly identifying any serious health risks that develop during these crises. This approach assists in identifying illnesses that have the potential to spread quickly and cause significant harm. Health officials can act quickly to stop these hazards from spreading and causing additional harm once identified. EWARS is a warning system to protect us from potentially harmful illnesses when things are bad.
Conclusion
Early warning systems and monitoring are essential for lessening the effects of calamities like disease outbreaks and natural disasters. These systems allow for the rapid detection of potential health concerns and the implementation of quick response measures by gathering and analyzing data in real-time. Using technology such as automated alarm systems and mobile data collecting increases the efficacy and efficiency of surveillance operations. Ultimately, lowering excess morbidity and mortality during emergencies and preserving public health and well-being require investing in strong surveillance and early warning systems.
