A review of infectious disease surveillance to inform public health action against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exposed the inadequacy of infectious disease surveillance throughout the US and other countries. Isolation and contact tracing to identify all infected people are key public health interventions necessary to control infectious disease outbreaks. However, these activities are dependent upon the surveillance platform to identify infections quickly. A robust surveillance platform can also reinforce community adherence to behavioral interventions such as social distancing. In situations where contact tracing is feasible, all suspected cases and contacts of confirmed cases must be tested for a SARS-CoV-2 infection and effectively isolated. At the community level wastewater surveillance can identify areas where transmission is or is not occurring, and genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 can help to elucidate the intensity of transmission independent of the number of known cases and hospitalizations. State and county public health departments should improve the infectious disease surveillance platform whilst the public is practicing social distancing. These enhanced surveillance activities are necessary to contain the epidemic once the curve has been sufficiently flattened in highly burdened areas, and to prevent escalation in areas where transmission is minimal.

Impact of COVID-19 on logistics systems and disruptions in food supply chain

“…For example, the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP) estimated the infection in 300-400 million people in India with COVID-19, but it is a gigantic figure as compared to positive cases reported till June 2020 (CDDEP 2020). As per existing data, R naught (R0) of the COVID-19 is estimated between 1.4 and 6.4 with an average of approximate 3.0, and that is higher than Ebola (2) but lesser than Zika (3-6.6), Measles (11-18), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (3.6-3.7) (Larsen et al 2020). Callaway et al (2020) claimed that COVID-19 is less deadly than the other outbreaks, like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), and Ebola, but the transmission of the COVID-19 has appeared easier than other infections.…”

SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Modes of transmission, early detection and potential role of pollutions

“…Wastewater surveillance may then serve as an important and quick tool to determining the spread of COVID-19 within a community and can assist policy makers in early detection of outbreak through analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples. The information obtained can assist in identifying areas where transmission is occurring ( Kitajima et al, 2020 ; Larsen et al, 2020 ), provide guidance on when to relax restrictions on population movement ( Nghiem et al, 2020 ), assist in containing the pandemic once the curve is flattened, and help to prevent escalation where infections are minimal ( Larsen et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The spread of the pandemic resulted in worldwide lockdowns in effort to “flatten the curve” and not overwhelm health care institutions ( Lau et al, 2020 ). The key to interrupting the chain of transmission is isolating infected people and tracing back those who they have interacted with ( Khanna et al, 2020 ; Larsen et al, 2020 ). Human-to-human transmission occurs during the virus incubation period of 2–10 days, with spread being facilitated through droplets, contaminated hands and surfaces ( Enyoh et al, 2020 ; Kampf et al, 2020 ).…”

Continuing medical education during pandemic waves of COVID-19: Consensus from medical faculties in Asia, Australia and Europe

“…clinical and community attachments should be suspended at the first detection of infection regionally (Medical Schools Council, 2020a) and remain suspended until there are no signs of local or community acquired infection for the recommended 14 day period (Larsen et al, 2020). Final year students and those volunteering in community electives and activities may be supported by medical schools following careful evaluation of risks, infection control and hospital and community needs.…”