Summary
Respiratory illnesses commonly occur in clusters or epidemics and may be attributed to a diverse range of exposures. These exposures include communicable diseases such as influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Legionella pneumophila, rhinovirus and other infectious pathogens. They also include non-communicable conditions caused by exposure to agents such as sulphur dioxide and other oxidants, smoke and other particulates, volatile organic hydrocarbons, soybean dust, Alternaria and other moulds, pollens and other allergens. Agents released in a bioterrorism episode could also potentially cause outbreaks of respiratory illness. It is important to recognise, though, that in many cases the cause of outbreaks of respiratory illness is unknown, at least initially.
The tragic events in Victoria on 21 November 2016, when 10 people died and several thousand were hospitalised due to ‘thunderstorm asthma’ focused attention on respiratory epidemics, including those related to asthma. This event highlighted the largely unpredictable nature of epidemics and the need for better monitoring and surveillance not only to be prepared for them, but also to identify them and to respond rapidly and appropriately when they occur.Respiratory illnesses commonly occur in clusters or epidemics and may be attributed to a diverse range of exposures. These exposures include communicable diseases such as influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Legionella pneumophila, rhinovirus and other infectious pathogens. They also include non-communicable conditions caused by exposure to agents such as sulphur dioxide and other oxidants, smoke and other particulates, volatile organic hydrocarbons, soybean dust, Alternaria and other moulds, pollens and other allergens. Agents released in a bioterrorism episode could also potentially cause outbreaks of respiratory illness. It is important to recognise, though, that in many cases the cause of outbreaks of respiratory illness is unknown, at least initially.
The tragic events in Victoria on 21 November 2016, when 10 people died and several thousand were hospitalised due to ‘thunderstorm asthma’ focused attention on respiratory epidemics, including those related to asthma. This event highlighted the largely unpredictable nature of epidemics and the need for better monitoring and surveillance not only to be prepared for them, but also to identify them and to respond rapidly and appropriately when they occur.
Preliminary material: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Overview
1 Background
- Thunderstorm asthma—example of a respiratory epidemic
- Need for syndromic respiratory surveillance
- Respiratory epidemics workshop
2 Workshop introduction
3 Workshop session 1: data sources
- Data opportunities for respiratory surveillance, and ambulance, hospital and mortality data overview
- Ambulance data
- Sentinal volunteers—AirRater program
- Textual analysis: techniques, new data, opportunities and challenges
- General practice data—MedicineInsight
- General practice data
- Pharmacy data
- PBS data
- Laboratory requests and results
- Discussion on data sources
4 Workshop session 2: analytical issues
- The NSW near real-time ED surveillance system took 5 months to establish in 2003. How long should it
- take us 14 years later?
- Accessing, exchanging, creating and evaluating research data and analytic methods for clinical language
- processing
- Data analytical approaches to predictive surveillance
- Signalling algorithms
- Discussion on analytical issues
5 Workshop session 3: Communication
- NSW Health perspective
- Lessons learned from the Victorian Emergency Response Plan
- National perspective–lessons from OzFoodNet
- Commonwealth health protection architecture
- Discussion on communication
6 Workshop summary
- Key issues and challenges for further consideration identified by workshop participants
- Additional issues for consideration
Appendixes
Appendix A: Media releases, reports and internet resources following the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, 21─22 November 201
Appendix B: Workshop program
Appendix C: Speaker biographies
Appendix D: List of workshop participants
End matter: Glossary; References