Reflections on public health surveillance of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in NSW

Tim Churches; Stephen J. Conaty; Robin E. Gilmour; David J. Muscatello

doi:10.1071/NB09046

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Reflections on public health surveillance of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in NSW

Tim Churches ^A , Stephen J. Conaty ^B , Robin E. Gilmour ^C ^D and David J. Muscatello ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health

^B Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service

^C Communicable Diseases Branch, NSW Department of Health

^D Corresponding author. Email: robin.gilmour@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 21(2) 19-25 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB09046
Published: 8 April 2010

Abstract

Surveillance has a fundamental role during public health emergencies to provide accurate and relevant information to guide decision making. For each phase of the NSW response to the pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza there were significant differences in the public health surveillance objectives and response mechanisms. Consequently each phase placed a different emphasis on the various sources and types of surveillance information which were collected and reported upon. We examine whether the NSW public health surveillance systems were able to inform effective public health management throughout all phases of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.

References

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