Measuring timeliness detection of outbreak of food and water borne diseases in Albania, 2005-2016

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate timeliness and data quality of national outbreak of food and water borne diseases reporting in Albania during 2005-2016. Methods & Materials: The study used aggregated data at national level from public health surveillance reports. Data on disease outbreaks of food and water borne diseases occurring from 2005 to 2016 were obtained from the national disease surveillance database and outbreak investigation reports. The dataset consisted of basic epidemiological information, regarding time, place, and total cases of each outbreak occurrence. Time variables included date of symptom onset in the index case, date when the outbreak start, outbreak detection date, date of laboratory confirmation, date of public health response and date of report to Ministry of Health and WHO and date of first public communication. The total number of outbreaks of food and water borne diseases reported during 2005 to 2016 were described. The number of confirmed cases and suspected cases reported for each disease outbreak were also summarized by year, using median and interquartile range. Results: Almost all date data in outbreak reports in Albania were complete but missing data were found only in the date of laboratory confirmation, date of disease treatment, date of patient hospitalization and date of disease end. During 2005-2016, 43 outbreaks were reported to Institute of Public Health, Albania. 36 (83.7%) outbreaks were confirmed by region and by pathogen. Food and water borne outbreaks are more common during the summer months and too often, outbreaks of food and water borne diseases go unrecognized or unreported or are not investigated. Salmonela is most common cause of food borne illness and most persistent. Conclusion: Confirmation of food and waterborne outbreak is low and timeliness data related to it are often missing. There is a need to have a joint platform for surveillance data, outbreak reporting and response and communication activities to measure timeliness but also the effectiveness of the response and communication activities especially related to IHR implementation.