Evaluation of Real-Time Mortality Surveillance Based on Media Reports

Olayinka, Olaniyi; Bayleyegn, Tesfaye; Noe, Rebecca S.; Lewis, Lauren; Arrisi, Vincent; Wolkin, Amy

doi:10.1017/dmp.2016.170

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Systematically collecting timely occupational data on ill persons during a pandemic can provide information about disproportionately affected occupational groups and improve recommendations to protect workers, the community, and public health. 35 , 36 , 37 In the absence of occupational data collected systematically through case report forms, we have demonstrated that the identification of COVID‐19 related deaths among a specific group of workers using media reports and union records can yield useful information about these decedents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID‐19 mortality among Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) workers—March–July 2020, New York City metro area

Tomasi

Ramirez-Cardenas

Thiese

et al. 2021

American J Industrial Med

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Background Transit workers have jobs requiring close public contact for extended periods of time, placing them at increased risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and more likely to have risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐related complications. Collecting timely occupational data can help inform public health guidance for transit workers; however, it is difficult to collect during a public health emergency. We used nontraditional epidemiological surveillance methods to report demographics and job characteristics of transit workers reported to have died from COVID‐19. Methods We abstracted demographic and job characteristics from media scans on COVID‐19 related deaths and reviewed COVID‐19 memorial pages for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU). ATU and TWU provided a list of union members who died from COVID‐19 between March 1–July 7, 2020 and a total count of NYC metro area union members. Peer‐reviewed publications identified through a scientific literature search were used to compile comparison demographic statistics of NYC metro area transit workers. We analyzed and reported characteristics of ATU and TWU NYC metro area decedents. Results We identified 118 ATU and TWU NYC metro area transit worker COVID‐19 decedents with an incidence proportion of 0.3%. Most decedents were male (83%); median age was 58 years (range: 39–71). Median professional tenure was 20 years (range: 2–41 years). Operator (46%) was the most reported job classification. More than half of the decedents (57%) worked in positions associated with close public contact. Conclusion Data gathered through nontraditional epidemiological surveillance methods provided insight into risk factors among this workforce, demonstrating the need for mitigation plans for this workforce and informing transit worker COVID‐19 guidance as the pandemic progressed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID‐19 mortality among Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) workers—March–July 2020, New York City metro area

Tomasi

Ramirez-Cardenas

Thiese

et al. 2021

American J Industrial Med

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“…By contrast, media mortality reports can provide vital information during a disaster to support evidence-based public health messaging to aim to minimize mortality and injury in near-real time in a less resource-intense manner. 22 Winter storms are the most common weather incident involving power outages, and the frequency and intensity of winter storms are increasing. 13,14 After a disaster, such as a winter storm, households may be without emergency health services and access to other resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Surveillance During Winter Storm Uri, United States – 2021

Hanchey,

Jiva,

Bayleyegn

et al. 2023

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Objective: On February 12, 2021, Winter Storm Uri hit the United States. To understand the disaster-related causes and circumstances of death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated media mortality surveillance. Methods: The team searched the internet daily for key terms related to Uri and compiled the information into a standardized media mortality surveillance database to conduct descriptive statistics. Results: Between February 12 and March 2, 2021, the accessed media reported 136 Uri-related deaths from nine states. Most decedents were male (39%) and adults (62.5%). Exposure to extreme temperatures (47.1%) was the most common cause of death. Among indirect deaths, motor vehicle collision (12.5%), and carbon monoxide poisoning (7.4%) represented the top two circumstances. Conclusion: This was the first time CDC activated media mortality surveillance for a winter storm. Media mortality surveillance is useful in assessing the impact of a disaster and provides timely data for an all-hazards response approach.

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“…Media reports have been used during other disasters, such as hurricanes, to augment traditional mortality surveillance methods and can help identify deaths quickly, provide situational awareness, and inform traditional surveillance activities and responses. 3,4 We used media reports to quickly document mortality among first responders early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when other sources of data on industry and occupation for COVID-19 cases were not widely available. Among a subset of deaths verified by jurisdictions, the sensitivity of the media scan was 88%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Media reports can be used during disasters to augment traditional mortality surveillance methods and may provide more timely information than traditional surveillance. 3,4 Workers in law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies (ie, first responders) are visible figures in their communities and essential critical infrastructure workers who may have occupational exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. To gather timely information early in the COVID-19 pandemic among this workforce, we used media scan techniques to monitor publicly available reports of COVID-19–related deaths among first responders and verified that information with US public health jurisdictions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Media Reports as a Tool for Timely Monitoring of COVID-19–Related Deaths Among First Responders—United States, April 2020

et al. 2021

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We aimed to describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths among first responders early in the COVID-19 pandemic. We used media reports to gather timely information about COVID-19–related deaths among first responders during March 30–April 30, 2020, and evaluated the sensitivity of media scanning compared with traditional surveillance. We abstracted information about demographic characteristics, occupation, underlying conditions, and exposure source. Twelve of 19 US public health jurisdictions with data on reported deaths provided verification, and 7 jurisdictions reported whether additional deaths had occurred; we calculated the sensitivity of media scanning among these 7 jurisdictions. We identified 97 COVID-19–related first-responder deaths during the study period through media and jurisdiction reports. Participating jurisdictions reported 5 deaths not reported by the media. Sixty-six decedents worked in law enforcement, and 31 decedents worked in fire/emergency medical services. Media reports rarely noted underlying conditions. The media scan sensitivity was 88% (95% CI, 73%-96%) in the subset of 7 jurisdictions. Media reports demonstrated high sensitivity in documenting COVID-19–related deaths among first responders; however, information on risk factors was scarce. Routine collection of data on industry and occupation could improve understanding of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among all workers.

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Evaluation of Real-Time Mortality Surveillance Based on Media Reports

Cited by 8 publications

References 19 publications

COVID‐19 mortality among Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) workers—March–July 2020, New York City metro area

COVID‐19 mortality among Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) workers—March–July 2020, New York City metro area

Mortality Surveillance During Winter Storm Uri, United States – 2021

Media Reports as a Tool for Timely Monitoring of COVID-19–Related Deaths Among First Responders—United States, April 2020

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