JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Automated outbreak detection can enhance infectious disease surveillance by enabling early identification of outbreaks and supporting timely public health measures. However, information on its current use by national public health institutes (NPHI) remains limited.

Objective:

This paper aims to provide an updated and extended overview of automated outbreak detection usage in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) by: (1) assessing current demand, (2) examining the availability of key prerequisites within existing surveillance systems, and (3) identifying challenges and requirements for implementation.

Methods:

A mixed-method approach was applied as part of the Joint Action UNITED4Surveillance. Data were collected between April 2023 and January 2024 through an online survey sent to 25 countries, an in-person workshop with experts from 16 countries, and follow-up meetings with participating NPHIs. Additional information for selected countries was obtained from literature. Data were analysed descriptively.

Results:

Twenty-one countries completed the survey. Seven countries have established automated outbreak detection systems (AODS), four are planning implementation, and ten participated in a pilot project. All surveyed countries reported acting on detected surveillance signals. Most have suitable surveillance infrastructure, including case-based data (20/21), daily reporting (21/21), and at least three years of historical data (21/21). Main barriers to implementation include limited funding (15/21), insufficient IT capacity, and data quality issues (9/21). Despite heterogeneity in methods and system design, outputs and user requirements are largely similar across countries, with needs for flexible outputs, stratification, and user-friendly interfaces.

Conclusions:

While the specific methods in existing AODS differ, overall demands and outputs are similar, suggesting a single tool could serve multiple countries. Capacity building as part of EU-funded Joint Actions can bridge these gaps by developing sustainable tools and fostering cross-country collaboration.