BACKGROUND Early, accurate predictions of the onset of influenza season enable targeted implementation of control efforts. Our objective was to develop a tool to assist public health practitioners, researchers, and clinicians in defining the community-level onset of seasonal influenza epidemics. METHODS Using recent surveillance data on virologically confirmed infections of influenza, we deve...

OBJECTIVES We describe a method to facilitate routine monitoring of socioeconomic health disparities in the United States. METHODS We analyzed geocoded public health surveillance data including events from birth to death (c. 1990) linked to 1990 census tract (CT) poverty data for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. RESULTS For virtually all outcomes, risk increased with CT poverty, and when we ...

cancer has emerged as a major public health concern owing to its magnitude, worldwide distribution, impact on the quality of life, financial burden on the patient / family / society / health care delivery system, and associated mortality. findings of a study have shown that approximately 19% of all types of cancers have been attributed to the environmental factor. almost 900 potential carcinoge...

Electronic health record systems contain clinically detailed data from large populations of patients that could significantly enrich public health surveillance. Clinical practices' security, privacy, and proprietary concerns, however, have limited their willingness to share these data with public health agencies. We describe a novel distributed network for public health surveillance called MDPH...

PURPOSE To discuss the current trend toward greater use of electronic health records and how these records could enhance public health surveillance of eye health and vision-related conditions. DESIGN Perspective, comparing systems. METHODS We describe 3 currently available sources of electronic health data (Kaiser Permanente, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Centers for Medicare ...

Introduction: For 10 years, Brazil has presented a significant flow in cruise ships with 597 011 travelers in 2015. Cruise ships represent a major mass gathering capacity, generating more risk of outbreaks and epidemics. Moreover, visiting several places presents travelers with the possibility of contact with some tropical diseases, which demands the development of specific pol...

Introduction National efforts to improve quality in public health are closely tied to advancing capabilities in disease surveillance. Measures of public health quality provide data to demonstrate how public health programs, services, policies, and research achieve desired health outcomes and impact population health. They also reveal opportunities for innovations and improvements. Similar quali...