Public Health Infographic: Understanding Public Health Surveillance Systems

11 Disease forecasting is vital when it comes to keeping the public safe from the spread of infectious disease and illness . Ma Disease forecasting is the process of using public health data to predict how a disease will affect the local population . This prediction allows time for vital resources to be provided to affected areas . E WHAT IS DISEASE FORECASTING ? O IL || M DISEASE FORECASTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH HOW DOES DISEASE FORECASTING HELP WITH SURVEILLANCE ? MM WHAT DATA SOURCES ARE USED FOR DISEASE FORECASTING ? A disease forecast includes the collection and analysis of various types of public health data , including : Disease forecasting enhances disease surveillance by helping public health officials better prepare for the spread of disease , so they can take steps to protect the local population from infection before they test positive . This ultimately reduces the number of people who are affected , while preserving health resources for those who urgently need medical care . FORECASTS ? Lab reports and test results O Immunization information Health outcomes of infected individuals N The density of the population HOW ACCURATE ARE DISEASE The average length of infection The prevalence of existing health conditions that can make people more susceptible to infection Public events with tight crowds that could increase the spread of the disease + Q OQ Q The accuracy will vary based on the information the department collects on the local population and the timeframe of the predicted outcome . par ← Contextual information about how residents feel about the disease , such as social media posts 500 HOW TO IMPROVE DISEASE FORECASTING ? Using detailed , high - quality data that is compatible with the department's disease surveillance software is the best way to increase the accuracy of disease forecasts . oco Every piece of data should be stored in the database for analysis without duplication or missing fields to make sure it accurately represents the local population . DOM Hm Ka 10000 SSG Public health departments can use disease forecasting to look into the future and predict events that have yet to occur . It is often the best way to protect individuals from infection when facing the unknown .