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Epidemiological Surveillance
Surveillance can be defined as the ongoing, systematic, collection of data related to health events; their verification, analysis, interpretation, and the dissemination of information to those who need to know, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health (WHO).
Acute Flaccid Paralysis
| Generalities on Poliovirus | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Virus: poliovirus (genus enterovirus), with 3 serotypes: 1, 2 and 3 |
| Incubation period | 7-14 days (3-35 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | 7-10 days before onset, up to 3-6 weeks after onset |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | -Person-to-person: faecal-oral route, and rarely pharyngeal -Rarely through water and food |
| Clinical presentation | -90-95% asymptomatic infection -4-8% mild illness (influenza-like illness or gastro-intestinal illness) -1-2% aseptic meningitis -<1% paralytic poliomyeltis |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no 34 (2012) - MOPH circular no 76 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Specific reporting form - Investigation form: data collection - Investigation form: additional data - Investigation form: specimen collection - Investigation form: Rapid OPV3/IPV3 coverage survey - Investigation form: Follow up at day 60 - Investigation form: Final classification |
| Guidelines | Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance guideline: Ar, En, Fr |
| Data | - AFP surveillance tables - AFP surveillance bulletin |
Anthrax
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Bacteria: Bacillus anthracis, Gram positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, encapsulated, spore-forming, and non-motile - Can be used in biological warfare |
| Incubation period | 1-7 days (up to 60 days for inhalation form) |
| Period of transmissibility | - Person-to-person transmission rare: direct contact with skin lesions (cutaneous form) - Contaminated articles and soils remain infective for several years |
| Reservoir | - Animals (herbivores both livestock and wildlife) who shed the bacilli in terminal hemorrhages or blood at death - Soil and environment where spores may remain viable for years - Dried or processed skins and hides of infected animals, that may harbor spores for years |
| Modes of transmission | - Cutaneous form: contact with tissues, hair, wool, hides, products of infected animals; contact with soil containing spores or contaminated with bone meal; possible flies bite that fed on infected animals - Inhalation form: inhalation of spore-laden dust in industries (tanning hides, processing wool or bone products…); accidental inhalation in laboratory; intentional release of spores using aerosol devices including mail-items - Digestive form: ingestion of contaminated undercooked meat - Injection form: injection of contaminated heroin |
| Clinical presentation | - Cutaneous form (95% of cases)on exposed skin: evolutive lesions from itchiness, to papular, vesicular, then eschar with or without surrounding redness with extensive oedema. Untreated lesions may progress to regional lymph nodes and/or to septicemia. Case fatality is 5-20%. - Inhalation form (rare): mild respiratory infection that evolves in 3-6 days to acute respiratory distress. At Chest XR, a mediastinal widening (with or without pleural effusion) is observed. Meningitis may occur. Case fatality is almost 100% with delayed or no treatment. - Intestinal form (rare): fever with intestinal symptoms (abdominal pain and diarrhea). Case fatality is 25-75%. - Oropharyngeal form: a painless mucosal lesion in the oral cavity or oropharynx, with cervical adenopathy, edema, pharyngitis, fever, and possibly septicemia - Injection form: similar to cutaneous form, but there may be infection deep under the skin or in the muscle. Complications: septicemia, meningitis, death |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 98 (2015) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Anthrax investigation form |
| Data | No reported cases in Lebanon from 2000 to 2015 |
Bilharziasis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Fluke worms: schistosoma haemotobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum, S. intercalatum, S. mekongi |
| Incubation period | 2-6 weeks |
| Period of transmissibility | - No person to person transmission - Infected human can excrete eggs for years |
| Reservoir | - Humans, rodents - Intermediate snail hosts: Bulinus (S. Haematobium), Biomphalania (S. Mansoni) |
| Modes of transmission | - Skin penetration of larvae (cercaviae) in contaminated water - Eggs of schistosoma leave the human body via urine and fees - Eggs hatch in water and liberate larva (miracidia) that penetrate into freshwater snail host (genus Bulinus or genus Biomphalania). Several weeks after, larva (cercariae) emerge from snails and penetrate human skin while swimming, wading, or washing… |
| Clinical presentation | - Parasite living in mesenteric / vesical veins - Urinary form: Hematuria (S. Haemotobium) - Intestinal/hepatic form: gastro-intestinal symptoms with or without hepato(spleno)megaly - Complications: chronic infection, malignancy |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 130 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Bilharziasis investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Brucellosis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Brucella abortus (biovars 1-6,9) Brucella melitensis (biovars 1-3), Brucella suis (biovars 1-5), Brucella canis, B. ceti, and B. pinnepedalis |
| Incubation period | 5-60 days (commonly 1-2 months) |
| Period of transmissibility | Rare person-to-person transmission: exposure to contaminated fomites, tissues or massive bleeding |
| Reservoir | - Cattle, goat, sheep, swine - Also: camel, bison, elk, equid, deer, dog, marine mammal... |
| Modes of transmission | - Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products - Contact through skin breaks with infected animal tissues (placenta, blood, abortion) - Airborne in pens, stables, laboratories, abattoirs - Accidental self-inoculation of animal vaccine |
| Clinical presentation | Systematic bacterial infection, with irregular fever |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 55 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Brucellosis investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" |
Cholera
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Bacteria: Vibrio cholera, serogroup O1 (biotype classical or El Tor, subtype Ogawa or Inaba), or serogroup O139 - Enterotoxin producer |
| Incubation period | 2-5 days (can be few hours to 5 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | As long as the bacteria is excreted in feces, up to few days after recovery |
| Reservoir | Humans, brackish waters and estuaries |
| Modes of transmission | - Consumption of contaminated water - Consumption of contaminated food: by water, by human feces, by soiled hands, raw or undercooked seafood - Person-to-person transmission: fecal-oral route |
| Clinical presentation | - Acute abundant watery diarrhea (rice-water stool) - Asymptomatic infection is common - Complications: dehydration and death. Case fatality can reach 50% if untreated, and is <1% if treated |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 99 (2015) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Cholera investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease or Human Spongiform Encephalopathy
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Abnormal form of self-replicating host-encoded protein or prion protein - 4 forms: sporadic (sCJD), iatrogenic (iCJD), genetic (gCJD) and and new variant (vCJD) |
| Incubation period | - For iCJD: 15 months – 30 years - For vCJD: may be 6-9 years |
| Period of transmissibility | As long as prions are present, found in lymphoid tissues from early incubation, and lately in the Central Nervous System CNS |
| Reservoir | - For sCJD, iCJD: Humans - For vCJD: cattle affected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) |
| Modes of transmission | - sCJD: unknown - iCJD: transmission from sCJD via human pituitary hormone therapy, human dura mater grafts, corneal grafts, neurosurgical instruments - gCJD: hereditary mutation on chromosome 20 - vCJD: blood transfusion, hypothesis of consumption of food from animal infected by BSE agent |
| Clinical presentation | - sCJD and iCJD: subacute spongiform encephalopathy (confusion, progressive dementia, ataxia, myoclonic jerking...), with typical Electro-encephalogramm (EEG), fatal within 3-12 months - vCJD: subacute spongiform encephalopathy in younger age group, without typical EEG, with longer clinical course and behavioral disturbance - gCJD: Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI), Gerstmann-Staussler-Schneiker Syndrome (GSSS) - Case fatality: 100% |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 42 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 44 (2007): new variant |
| Forms | - General reporting form - CJD investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Coronavirus: invasive/novel
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). 1) Classical coronavirus: viruses that can infect humans and animals. - Human coronavirus (HCoV): causing mild illness (229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1...) - Animal coronavirus: may infect pigs, domestic and wild birds, bats, rodents, dogs, cats and cattle. They cause acute and chronic diseases in animals such as respiratory and gastro-enteric diseases, neurologic diseases, and liver disease. 2) Novel coronavirus: - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) who caused a large outbreak in 2002-2003. - Middle East respiratory syndrome–Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): first identified in 2012 - Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) |
| Incubation period | - HCoV: 2-4 days - SARS-CoV: 2-10 days (mean; 5 days) - MERS-CoV: 2-14 days - COVID-19: 4-7 days (up to 14 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | - HCoV: during the active disease - SARS-CoV: from onset to 21 days - MERS-CoV: during illness. The duration of infectivity after resolution of symptoms is unknown. - COVID-19: usually during illness |
| Reservoir | - HCoV: Humans - SARS-CoV: cave-dwelling bats (genus Rhinolophus), Himalayan masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), other wildlife animals - MERS-CoV: may be camels and bats |
| Modes of transmission | - HCoV: person-to-person transmission via repiratory droplets, aerosls, fecal oral route, fomites - SARS-CoV: 1) Animal-to-person; 2) Person-to-person: while caring for, or living with a patient; via respiratory secretions, via body fluids; or airborne (aerosolized sewage, mechanical ventilation...) - MERS-CoV: 1) Limited person-to-person transmission: close contact, when providing unprotected care to a patient; 2) Suspected animal-to-person transmission via droplet contact, fomite transmission, food-borne, airbone - COVID-19: 1) Person-to-person: droplets (directly or indirectly), aerosol generating medical procedures, 2) Animal-to-peron |
| Clinical presentation | - HCoV: usually self-limited illness as upper respiratory infection, otitis media, gastroenteritis. Complications: pneumonia, encephalitis, peritonitis... - SARS-CoV: pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Global case fatality in 2003: 10%. - MERS-CoV: usually, acute lower respiratory infection with or without gastrointestinal symptoms. It may be asymptomatic. The illness may be severe in people with chronic medical conditions. It may evolve to respiratory failure, organ failure (as renal failure), septic shock... Global case fatality: 27%. - COVID-19: usually acute respiratory infection |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 35 (2012): SARS-CoV - MOPH circular no. 37 (2014): MERS-CoV - MOPH circular no. 42 (2020): COVID-19 |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Novel Coronavirus reporting form - Laboratory request form - Patient transfert request form - SARS-CoV investigation form - MERS-CoV investigation form |
| Data | - SARS-CoV: No SARS-CoV was detected in Lebanon in 2003 - MERS-CoV: 2 cases detected and confirmed in 2014 and 2017 - COVID-19: Daily report on COVID-19 |
| Other Resources | - Specimen collection for COVID-19 - Questions and Answers - Presentation: coronavirus, A, E - Presentation: resources, A, E - Presentation: questions and answers, A, E - Presentation: case definition, A, E - Presentation: specimen collection, A, E - Presentation: areas with community transmission, A, E |
Diphtheria
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Bacteria: Corynebacterium diphtheria (4 biotypes: gravis, mitis, intermedius, and belfani), and Corynebacterium ulcerans - Toxin producer (DTX) |
| Incubation period | 2-4 days (1-10 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | Usually 2 weeks |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to person via droplets (respiratory secretions), skin lesions, or fomites; and rarely through indirect contact - Raw milk can serve as vehicle |
| Clinical presentation | - Anterior nasal, pharyngeal and tonsillar (pseudo-membranes), laryngeal (stridor) forms - Cutaneous diphtheria (vesicles and later ulcers) - May be asymptomatic - Main complications: myocarditis, neuropathy from mild weakness to total paralysis |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 107 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Diphtheria case investigation form - Diphtheria contacts investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Food Poisoning
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Several agents: 1) Bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Brucella, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringes, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholera, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Yersinia Enterocolitica... 2) Virus: Enteric Adenovirus, Coronavirus, Rotavirus, Parvovirus, Calicivirus, Astrovirus, POliovirus, Enterovirus, Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus... 3) Parasites: Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spiralis... 4) Natural toxins: Scomboid fish poisoning (histamine poisoning), Paralytic shellfish poisoning, Tetrodotoxin poisoning (puffer fish poisoning), Mushrooms toxins, Plant toxins... 5) Chemicals: Pesticides, Toxic metals, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Fluoride, Zinc, Nitrites, Sodium hydroxide, Monosodium glutamate... |
| Incubation period | Varies with the agent |
| Period of transmissibility | Varies with the agent |
| Reservoir | Varies with the agent |
| Modes of transmission | - Mainly, Consumption of contaminated food - Other: person-to-person (fecal orat route), vertical transmission... |
| Clinical presentation | Varies with the agent. It includes: - Gastroenteritis - Systematic infection - Neurological manifestations - Cholinergic syndrome ... |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 81 (2001) - MOPH circular no. 36 (2007): Trichinellosis |
| Forms | - Investigation form - Inspection form - Trichinella investigation form - Botulism investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" |
Gonococcal infection
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Neisseria gonorrheae (gonococcus) |
| Incubation period | - 1-14 days - For gonococcal neonatorum: 1-5 days |
| Period of transmissibility | - For months if untreated - Effective treatment ends communicability within hours. - For gonococcal neonatorum: as long as discharge persists, if untreated. Transmissibility stops 24 hours after antibiotic treatment. |
| Reservoir | - Humans - For gonococcal neonatorum: infection of maternal cervix |
| Modes of transmission | - Contact with exudates from mucus membranes of infected people, secondary of sexual intercourse - For gonococcal neonatorum: contact with infected birth canal during childbirth |
| Clinical presentation | - For males: acute purulent urethritis - For females: cervicitis, that may be asymptomatic. Complications: endometritis, salpingitis, peritonitis, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, congenital conjunctivitis - Other form: pharyngeal, anorectal infection - General complications: septicemia, arthritis, skin lesions, endocarditis, meningitis, death - For gonococcal neonatorum: acute conjunctivitis with pus. Complications: corneal ulcer, blindness |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 61 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 60 (2007): Gonococcal conjunctivitis neonatorum |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Gonococcal infection investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
Hemorrhagic fever
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Several agents are responsible of the occurrence of febrile hemorrhagic manifestations. 1) Bacteria: Mainly Neisseria meningitis… 2) Virus: - Dengue virus: genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. It includes 4 serotypes 1-4. - Yellow fever virus: genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae - Chikungunya: genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae - Rift Valley fever virus: genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae - Lassa virus: arenavirus - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus: genus Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae - Ebola Disease virus: genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae. It includes several subtypes. - Marburg virus: genus Marburgvirus, family Filoviridae … |
| Incubation period | varies with the agent |
| Period of transmissibility | varies with the agent |
| Reservoir | varies with the agent |
| Modes of transmission | varies with the agent |
| Clinical presentation | varies with the agent |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 49 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 70 (2014): Ebola virus disease - MOPH circular no. 50 (2007): Marburg - MOPH circular no. 132 (2006): Yellow fever |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Specific hemorrhagic fever reporting form - Hemorrhagic fever investigation form - Ebola contact follow up investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
Hepatitis A
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Hepatitis A virus HAV, family Picornaviridae |
| Incubation period | 28-30 days (range 15-50 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | During the second half of the incubation period, and up to one week after jaundice onset |
| Reservoir | Humans, rarely chimpanzees and other primates |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person transmission: fecal oral route - Ingestion of contaminated food: prepared by food handler or undercooked mollusks harvested from contaminated water, contaminated produce - Ingestion of contaminated water or drinks - Transfusion of blood and clotting factor concentrates obtained from viremic donors - Injectable drug-use |
| Clinical presentation | - Febrile jaundice - Asymptomatic in childhood - Case fatality: 0.1-0.3 % (1.8% for >50 years) secondary to fulminant acute hepatitis |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 47 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hepatitis A investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" |
Hepatitis B
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Hepatitis B virus HBV, hepadnovirus - 4 subtypes: adw, ayw, adr, ayr - 8 genotypes: A-H |
| Incubation period | 45-180 days (60-90 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | If HBs Ag(+) or HBe Ag(+) |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person transmission: body fluids (blood, blood products, saliva, CSF, pleura, peritonial, percardial, synovial fluid, amniotic liquid, semen, vaginal secretions) - Modes: percutaneous and mucosal exposure to infective body fluids (sexual, perinatal, injectable drugs, nosocomial...) |
| Clinical presentation | - Clinical jaundice. May be asymptomatic - Complications: chronic hepatitis, cirhhosis, hepatocarcinoma cancer. Chronic infection varies with age: 90% if infected <1 year, 20-50% if infected at 1-5 years old, 1-10% if infected at older ages |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 111 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hepatitis B/C/D investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" |
Hepatitis C
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Hepatitis C virus, genus Hepacavirus, family Falviviridae |
| Incubation period | 2 weeks to 6 months |
| Period of transmissibility | From 1 or more weeks before onset, and may persists indefinitely |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to-person transmission: - Parenterally: transfusion of blood/blood products, parental exposure to contaminated instruments, nosocomial... - Rarely: sexual, mother to child |
| Clinical presentation | - Febrile jaundice - Asymptomatic in 90% - Complications: chronic infection (50-80%), cirrhosis, liver cancer |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 131 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hepatitis B/C/D investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" |
Hepatitis D
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Hepatitis D virus, virus-like particle |
| Incubation period | 2-8 weeks |
| Period of transmissibility | Blood infectious during all the phase of active delta hepatitis |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to-person transmission: - Exposure to infected blood and serous body fluids - Contaminated needles, syringes - Contaminated plasma derivatives - Sexual intercourse |
| Clinical presentation | - Febrile jaundice - Always associated with Hepatitis B infection - Complications: fulminant hepatitis |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 123 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hepatitis B/C/D investigation form |
| Data | No case reported from 1995 to 2015 |
Hepatitis E
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Hepatitis E virus, Hepevirus, family Hepeviridae |
| Incubation period | 15-64 days (median 26-42 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | Virus is present in stool up to 2 weeks after jaundice onset |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Consumption of contaminated water - Person-to-person transmission: fecal-oral route |
| Clinical presentation | - Febrile jaundice, similar to hepatitis A - No chronic infection - Case fatality: 20 % among pregnant women infected during the 3rd trimester |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 35 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hepatitis E investigation form |
| Data | No case reported from 1995 to 2015 |
Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1), family Retrovirus |
| Incubation period | - Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: few decades - HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis: 3.3 years (median) |
| Period of transmissibility | As long as the infection persists |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to-person transmission: - Vertical transmission: placenta-fetal, or via breastfeeding - Sexual intercourse - Blood: blood and blood products transfusion, intra-venous drug users, blood accidents… |
| Clinical presentation | - Asymptomatic carrier - Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (2-4%) - HTLV1- associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (<1%) - Other: HTLV-associated uveitis, infective dermatitis, polymyositis, chronic arthropathy, panbronchiolitis... |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 176 (2015) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - HTLV-1 investigation form |
| Data | Two cases reported in 2007 |
Hydatid Disease (Cystic) or Cystic Echinococcosis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Tapeworm: Echinococcus granulosus |
| Incubation period | 12 months to years |
| Period of transmissibility | No person-to-person transmission |
| Reservoir | - Definitive hosts: Dogs and other canides - Intermediate hosts: herbivores (sheep, cattle...) - Canines are infected by eating viscera from infected herbivores while gazing in areas contaminated by infected dog feces |
| Modes of transmission | - Direct hand-to-mouth transfer of worm eggs after contact with infected dogs - Consumption of contaminated food, water, soil, or fomites - Flies may disperse eggs after feeding on infected feces |
| Clinical presentation | Symptoms depending on cysts topography, size and number. They are compatible with a slowly growing tumour. |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 76 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Hydatid disease investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" section |
Influenza: novel virus
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Emergence of novel subtypes of Influenza A virus due to antigenic shift. Types B and C do not have subtypes. - Infection with novel influenza virus is a mandatory notifiable disease. Seasonal (common flu) influenza virus is not mandatory notifiable disease. |
| Incubation period | 2-7 days |
| Period of transmissibility | - Usually, 3-5 days before onset and until 7 days after onset - Patient may remain infctious for 3 weeks. |
| Reservoir | Aquatic birds, domestic poultry, mammalian (pigs, horses, whales, seals, ferrets, cats…) |
| Modes of transmission | 1) Animal-to-person: - Airbone, while slaughtering, defeathering, handling carcasses of infected poultry - Consumption of raw contaminated poultry - Direct contact with infected animals 2) Person-to-person: - Direct and/or indirect contact with droplets of infected person - Airborne (in case of aerosol-generated procedures) from an infected person |
| Clinical presentation | - Upper respiratory infection - Complication: lower respiratory infection |
| Resources | |
| Case definitions | - MOPH circular no. 38 (2012): Novel Influenza - MOPH circular no. 66 (2007): Novel Influenza A(H5N1) - MOPH circular no. 60 (2013): Novel Influenza A(H7N9) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Novel Influenza investigation form - Novel Influenza PCR request form |
| Data | - Human cases: non case confirmed of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) in Lebanon up to 2015 - Animal cases: Influenza A(H5N1) detected in poultry farms in Baalbeck caza in 2016. The containment plan was activated in 21 April 2016. |
Intestinal Infections
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Several agents are responsible of the occurrence of intestinal infections. Some are listed below. 1) Bacteria: - Campylobacter: spiral-shaped bacteria with 17 species including C. jejuni and C. coli - Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli EHEC, known as Verocytotoxin producing E. coli VTEC, or Shiga-toxin producing E.coli STEC. It includes the serogroups O26, O45, O111, O103, O121 - Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli EIEC: includes the serogroups O28ac, O29, O112, O124, O136, O143, O144, O152, O164, O167 - Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ETEC, elaborates enterotoxines and includes the serogroups O6, O8, O15, O20, O25, O27, O63, O78, O80, O114, O115, O128ac, O148, O153, O157, O159, O167, O169 - Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli EPEC: includes the serogroups O55, O86, O111, O119, O125, O126, O127, O128ab, O142 - Salmonella: Bacteria: non-typhoid salmonella serotypes - Shigella: Shigella dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii, S. sonnei - Other bacteria 2) Virus: - Rotavirus: family Reoviridae. It includes several groups A-F. Group A , the most common, includes several serotypes. - Other viruses 3) Parasites: - Entamoeba histolytica: protozoa - Giardiasis: Giardia intestinalis (formely lamblia or duodenalis) |
| Incubation period | varies with the agent |
| Period of transmissibility | varies with the agent |
| Reservoir | varies with the agent |
| Modes of transmission | varies with the agent |
| Clinical presentation | varies with the agent |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 51 (2007): Amibiasis - MOPH circular no. 51 (2007): Shigellosis |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Dysentery investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
Legionellosis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Legionella, Gram negative bacilli. There are 20 different species. 80% of human infections are due to L. Pneumophila serogroup 1. - Other species: L. micdadei, L. bozemanii, L. longbeachae, L. dumoffii… |
| Incubation period | - For Legionaires'disease: 5-6 days (2-10 days) - For Pontiac fever: 24-48 hours (5-66 hours) |
| Period of transmissibility | No person-to-person transmission |
| Reservoir | - Water: Legionnella is waterborne, found in water system, air conditionning cooling tower, whirpool spas... Legionella growth increases with warm water temperature (25-42C), sale and sediment, and low biocide levels - Potting soil may be reservoir for certain spp (L. longbeachar) |
| Modes of transmission | - Inhalation of contaminated aerosols - Microaspiration of contaminated water - Contaminated soil |
| Clinical presentation | Two forms: - Legionaires' disease: pneumonia with non productive cough. Case fatality: 15% - Pontiac fever: self-limited flu-like illness without pneumonia |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 175 (2015) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Legionellosis investigation form |
| Data | Notifiable disease since 2014 |
Leishmaniasis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Protozoa: Leishmamia - Cutaneous/mucosal form: Leishamania tropica, L, major, L. aethiopica, L. braziliensis, L. mexicana, L. infantum/chagazi, L. donovani - Visceral form: Leishamania donovani, L. infantum and L. infantum/chagazi |
| Incubation period | 1 week to several months |
| Period of transmissibility | - Rare person-to-person transmission: via transfusion - Human is infectious to sandfly as long as parasites remain in lesion (cutaneous) or in blood (visceral) |
| Reservoir | Humans, wild rodents, hyraxes, edentates, marsupials, domestic/wild dogs and canidae |
| Modes of transmission | - Bite of infective female phelbotomines (sandflies). Female sandflies become infected by feeding from reservoir hosts: animals (zoonotic cycle), or humans (anthroponotic cycle). - The sandflies are from genus phlebotomus in the Old World, and genus Lutzoma in the New World. |
| Clinical presentation | - Intracellular parasite - Cutaneous/mucosal form: single or multiple macule skin lesion(s) that evolve to papule(s) that enlarge and become indolent ulcer(s). Involvement of the mucosa of the nasopharynx is characterized by progressive tissue destruction. - Visceral form: chronic systematic disease characterized by fever, hepato-splenomegaly, lympho-anedopathy, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia. Fatal if untreated. |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 34 (2013): Cutaneous/mucocal form - MOPH circular no. 122 (2006): Visceral form |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Leishmaniasis investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
Leprosy
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae |
| Incubation period | From 9 months to 20 years |
| Period of transmissibility | - During active disease - Effective antibiotherapy stops transmission within one day of treatment |
| Reservoir | Humans, but also observed in monkeys |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to-person: close contact with nasal mucosa of a patient to the skin or respiratory tract of another person |
| Clinical presentation | - Chronic bacterial disease of the skin, peripheral nerves and upper airway, characterized by skin lesions (hypo-pigmentation with definite loss of sensation) and thicknesses of peripheral nerves and signs of peripheral nerves involvment - Two forms: 1) Lepromatous multibacillary form (>5 skin lesions): symmetrical and bilateral nodules, papules, and diffuse infiltrations, involvement of nasal mucosa, ocular involvement… 2) Tuberculoid paucibacillary form (1-5 skin lesions): single or few skin lesions, sharply demarcated, anaesthesic or hypoaesthesic, bilateral asymmetrical involvement of peripheral nerves |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 38 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Leprosy investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Measles
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Measles virus, genus morbillivirus, family paramyxoviridae |
| Incubation period | 10 days (7-18 days, may be to 21 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | 4 days before rash and 4 days after rash onset |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person: direct contact with droplets, rarely indirect contact - Airborne (if confined place) |
| Clinical presentation | - Febrile maculo-papular rash - Complications: otitis media (7-9%), pneumonia (1-6%), gastro-enteritis (8%) and dehydration, blindness, convulsions (1/200), encephalitis (1/1000) - Encephalitis: post-infectious encephalitis 1 week from onset; or acute encephalitis of delayed type weeks and months after onset) - Long term complication: sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis SSPE, 7 years or more after onset (1/25000 case, and 1/8000 if onset under 2 years old) - Case fatality: 3-6% in developing countries, 1-3/1000 in developed countries |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 11 (2013) |
| Forms | - Rash reporting form - Rash investigation form |
| Guideline | Measles surveillance guideline: Ar, En, Fr |
| Data | - Weekly report |
Meningitis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | There are several agents causing meningitis. 1) Main Bacteria: - Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus): Gram negative diplococci. Main invasive serotypes are A, B, C, W135, X, and Y. - Haemophilus influenza: Gram negative cocco-bacilli. There are 6 serotypes from (a) to (f). The serotype (b) is responsible of invasive infection. - Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus): Gram positive diplococci. There are more than 90 serotypes. - Leptospira: spirochetes, Leptospira interrogans (26 serogroups) - Listeria monocytogenes: Gram positive, rod-shapped - Other bacterial agents: Staphylococcus, enteric bacteria, group B streptococci, Mycobacterium tuberculosis… 2) Virus: - Mumps - Measles - West Nile virus: a Flavivirus - Enterovirus: including Coxsackieviruses A (2-4, 7, 9-10), Coxsackieviruses B (1-6), Echoviruses (2, 5-7, 9-11, 14, 18, 30), Enterovirus 71, Poliovirus (1-3) - Herpes Simplex virus (types 1 and 2): family Herpesviridae - Varicella-Zoster virus: Human (alpha) Herpesvirus 3 (varicella-zoster) from the group Herpesvirus - Adenovirus: Adenovirus, several types (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7), genus Mastadenovirus, family Adenoviridae, - Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: an Arenavirus - Sandfly fever viruses: genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae. They include more than 60 antigenically distinct virus serotypes. Two main groups are identified: a) Sandfly fever group including the Naples serocomplex (Karimabad virus, Arabia virus, Massilia virus, Punique virus, Tehran virus, Toscana virus …) and Sicilian serocomplex; and b) Uukuniemi group -Other virus: arboviruses… 3) Parasites: - Candida albicans, cryptococcus… |
| Incubation period | varies with the agent |
| Period of transmissibility | varies with the agent |
| Reservoir | varies with the agent |
| Modes of transmission | varies with the agent |
| Clinical presentation | varies with the agent |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 52 (2007): Meningitis - MOPH circular no. 63 (2007): Neisseria meningitidis - MOPH circular no. 54 (2007): Haemophilus influenzae b - MOPH circular no. 36 (2012): West Nile Virus |
| Forms | - Meningitis reporting form - Meningitis investigation form |
| Data | - Weekly report |
Meningococcal Infection
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), Gram negative diplococci - 12 serogroups have been identified - Six serogrouprs are responsible of invasive infection: A, B, C, W135, X, and Y. |
| Incubation period | 2-10 days, commonly 3-4 days |
| Period of transmissibility | Cases should be considered infectious from exposure until 24 hours after starting treatment of prophylaxis with appropriate antibiotics with substantial concentrations in oro/nasopharyngeal secretions |
| Reservoir | - Humans - Asymptomatic carriage in nasopharynx is common. |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person transmission by direct contact with respiratory droplets of infected people - Most cases acquired through exposure to asymptomatic carriers |
| Clinical presentation | - Bacterial meningitis - Septicaemia: rare ans severe with purpura - Complications: cerebral lesions, hearing loss, learning disorders among 10-20% of survivors - Case fatality: 8-15% despite treatment |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 63 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 72 (2003): contacts |
| Forms | - Meningitis reporting form - Meningitis investigation form |
| Data | - Weekly report |
Mumps
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Mumps virus, genus Rubulavirus, family Paramyxoviridae |
| Incubation period | 16-18 days (range 12-25 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | - Virus present in saliva 7 days prior and 9 days after parotiditis onset - Virus present in urine 6 days prior and 15 days after onset - Max 2 days prior and 4 days after onset |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | Person to person transmission: droplet and can be airborne |
| Clinical presentation | - Parotiditis most common manifestation (30-40%) - Asymptomatic in 20% - Complications: orchitis, oophoritis, sensoneuronal loss, hearing loss, pancreatitis (4%), aseptic meningitis/encephalitis. Rarely nephritis, arthropathy, cardiac abnormalities, death |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 110 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Mumps investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Pertussis or Whooping cough
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Bordetella pertussis (the bacillus of pertussis) or Bordetella parapertussis (causes parapertussis) |
| Incubation period | 9-10 days (6-20 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | - During the early catarrahal phase (up to 3 weeks) - No longer after 5 days of antibiotic treatement |
| Reservoir | - Humans for B. pertussis - Ovins for B. parapertussis |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to-person: direct contact with droplets and respiratory discharges, rarely by indirect contact though contaminated objects or air |
| Clinical presentation | - Upper respiratory infection - Complications: apnea (<1 y), encephalopathy, hernias, death - Mis-diasgnosed among adults |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 109 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Pertussis investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Plague
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Bacteria: Yersinia pestis |
| Incubation period | 1-7 days |
| Period of transmissibility | - Pneumonic plague: during the active phase - Bubonic phase (rare): if contact with pus from suppurative buboes |
| Reservoir | Wild rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits, hares), wild carnivores and domestic cats |
| Modes of transmission | - Most common via bite of infected rodent fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis): 1) Wild rodent fleas linked to zoonotic/sylvatic cycle; 2) Commensal rodent fleas infected by peri-domestic mammals and linked to poor hygiene - Handling infected animals - Contact with infected cats via bites or droplets - Laboratory exposure - Person-to-person: 1) Airborne droplets from patients with pneumonia or pharyngitis plague; 2) Pulex irritans fleas (human flea) - Aerosol: deliberate use |
| Clinical presentation | - Bubonic plague (90%: febrile lymph nodes that become swollen, inflamed, tender and may suppurate. Inguinal area is more concernet than axillary and cervical areas. Complications: septicemic plague, meningitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pneumonia, mediastinitis, pleural effusion, endotoxin shock. Case fatality is 50-60% if untreated. - Secondary pneumonic plague: source of primary pneumonic or pharyngitis plague, causing localized outbreaks. Fatal if untreated. |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 113 (2006) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Plague investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" |
Rabies
| Generalities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Agent | Rabies virus, genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae | |
| Incubation period | 3-8 weeks (few days to several years) | |
| Period of transmissibility | - Rabid dogs/cats are infectious 3-7 days before onset and up to death. - Rabid bats are infectious 12 days before onset and up to death. - Person-to-person transmission is possible but have never been confirmed. |
|
| Reservoir | - Wild and domestic cannidae (dogs, foxes, wolves) and other carnivores (cats...) - In some countries: bats |
|
| Modes of transmission | - Usually: virus-laden saliva of rabid animal introduced through wound (scratch, bite, existing wound) - Possible: mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) contaminated with saliva - Airborne in cave with rabid bats |
|
| Clinical presentation | Encephalomyelitis, with hydrophobia, fatal within 1-2 weeks from onset | |
| Resources | ||
| Case definitions | - MOPH circular no. 109 (2006): Human rabies - MOPH circular no. 50 (2005): Rabies exposure |
|
| Forms | - General reporting form - Rabies investigation form - Exposure investigation form |
|
| Data on Human rabies | Refer to "Surveillance Data" | |
| Data on Rabies Exposure | The data reflects the exposed persons managed by anti-rabies centers: - Year 2016 - Year 2015 - Year 2014 - Year 2013 - Year 2012 - Year 2011 - Year 2010 |
|
Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Rubella virus, genus Rubullovirus, family Togaviridae |
| Incubation period | 14-17 days (range 14-21 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | - 7 days before rash and 4 days after rash onset - From congenital rubella: infants shed the virus for several months after birth |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person: direct contact with droplets - Infants with Congenital Rubella Syndrome shed large quantities of virus in their pharyngeal secretions and urine. - Materno-foetal transmission: 90% of infants born to women infected with rubella during the 1st trimester. The risk of transmission is 10-20% by the 16th week, and rare after the 20th week. |
| Clinical presentation | - Febril maculo-papular rash - Complications: thrombocytopenia (1/3000), post-infectious encephalitis (1/6000), rarely chronic arthritis - Congenital Rubella Syndrome: Congenital malformation as deafness, cataracts, microphtalmia, congenital glaucoma, pigmentary retinopathy, nystagmus, microcephaly, meningo-encephalitis, mental retardation, patent ductus arteious, atrial or ventricular septal defects, other congenital heart disease, purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, radiolucent bone disease |
| Resources | |
| Case definitions | - MOPH circular no 12 (2013): Acquired Rubella - MOPH circular no 45 (2007): Congenital Rubella Syndrome |
| Forms | - Rash reporting form - CRS reporting form - Rash investigation form - CRS investigation form |
| Data | - Rubella 2021 - Rubella 2020 - Rubella 2019 - Rubella 2018 - Rubella 2017 - Rubella 2016 - Rubella 2015 |
Smallpox
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Variola virus of Orthopoxvirus species |
| Incubation period | 7-19 days (10-14 days for illness, 2-4 days more for rash) |
| Period of transmissibility | 3 weeks from onset of skin lesions |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Person-to-person: direct contact with droplets or skin lesions - Conjunctiva or placenta may be points of entry |
| Clinical presentation | - Prodomic phase with fever and flu-like illness - Classical form: fever with characteristic centrifugal deep-seated skin eruption: succession of macules, papules, vesicles, and pustules then crusted scabs. The lesions appear first at on the face, extremities, including the palms and soles, sand subsequently on the trunk. Skin lesions are at same stage in same area. - Two forms: minor with a case fatality < 1% and major with case fatality 20-50%. In less than 3%, the major form shows bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes (hemorrhagic smallpox). |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no. 37 (2012) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Smallpox investigation form |
| Data | - Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1979 - Last minor case: 1977 in Somalia - Last major case: 1976 in Bangladesh |
Syphilis
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | Spirochete: Treponema pallidum, subsp. palidum |
| Incubation period | 10 days to 3 months (usually 3 weeks) |
| Period of transmissibility | During the primary and secondary syphilis |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | Person-to person transmission: - Sexual transmission with direct contact with infectious exsudats from skin lesions or mucous membranes - Tranplacental transmission - Blood transfusion - Direct contact following unprotected clinical examination of infectious lesions |
| Clinical presentation | - Primary lesion: chancre appears as indurated painless ulcer with serous exsudates - Secondary skin eruption: maculopapular of the palms and soles with lymphadenopathy - Tertiary: meningitis, meningovascular syphilis, cardiovascular syphilis, gummas on skin , viscera, bones or mucosa - Fetal infection: congenital syphilis with generalized systemic disease and Central Nervous System (CNS) involvment. Congenital syphilis may be asymptomatic in the first weeks of life. Late manifestations include: involvement of the CNS, Hutchinson teeth (small, wide-spaced grayish incissors), saddlenose, sabre shins (periostitis), interstitial keratitis, and deafness |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 62 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 64 (2007): Congenital syphilis |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Syphilis investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
Tetanus and Tetanus Neonatorum
| Generalities | |
|---|---|
| Agent | - Bacteria: clostridium tetani or tetanus bacillus - Toxin producer |
| Incubation period | - 3-21 days (1 day to several months), and commonly 10 days - Tetanus Neonatorum: 6 days (3-28 days) |
| Period of transmissibility | No person-to-person transmission |
| Reservoir | - Intestines of horses and animals, and humans - Tetanus spores are ubiquitous in environment and soil |
| Modes of transmission | - Skin entry: Introduction of spores through puncture wound contaminated with soil, street dust or animal or human feces - Rarely by injectable contaminated drugs - Tetanus Neonatorum: 1) During delivery: introduction via the umbilical cord of tetanus spores through the use of an unclean instrument to cut the cord; 2) After delivery: by dressing the umbilical stumps with substance heavily contaminated with tetanus spores |
| Clinical presentation | - Muscle contraction, trismus (masseter contraction), neck/ trunk spasms, opisthotonos - Case fatality from 10% to 90% depending on availability of intensive care - Tetanus Neonatorum: Few days after birth the infant develops progressively trismus, generalized stiffness, spasms, convulsions and opisthotonos. Typically, an infant who sucks and cries well for the first few days after birth, and then shows progressive difficulty and inability to feed. Complications: 80% as case fatality, 5-20% of mental retardation among survivors |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | - MOPH circular no. 53 (2007) - MOPH circular no. 108 (2006): Tetanus Neonatorum |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Tetanus investigation form - Tetanus Neonatorum investigation form: Ar, Fr |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage |
Typhoid fever
| Generalities | |
| Agent | Bacteria: salmonella enterica subsp. enteric serovar typhi or paratyphi A, B or C |
| Incubation period | - Typhi: 3 to 60 days (8-14 days) - Paratyphi: 1-10 days |
| Period of transmissibility | - As long as the bacteria is in feces, usually after the 1st week of illness through convalescence . - Approximately 10% of untreated cases will excrete S. typhi for 3 months and between 2-5% of all cases become chronic carriers. |
| Reservoir | Humans |
| Modes of transmission | - Consumption of contaminated food: shellfish, fruits /vegetables, milk and milk products by food handlers - Food can be contaminated by flies - Consumption of contaminated water - Sexual transmission |
| Clinical presentation | a) Systemic bacteria infection: -Mild illness: low grade fever, malaise and dry cough,disturbances of bowel function(constipation in adults, diarrhea in children), headache, malaise and anorexia. Bronchitic cough is common in the early stage of the illness. During the period of fever, up to 25% of patients show a rash or rose spots, on the chest, abdomen and back. -Severe illness: abdominal discomfort, altered mental status and multiple complications(intestinal hemorrhage or peritonitis due to intestinal perforation) b) Carrier state: 1-5% of patients, depending on age, become chronic carriers harboring S.typhi in the gallbladder |
| Resources | |
| Case definition | MOPH circular no 46 (2007) |
| Forms | - General reporting form - Typhoid Fever investigation form |
| Data | Refer to "Surveillance Data" section |
"Surveillance data" page provides you with the reported cases related to mandatory notifiable diseases.
You will find a first section where data is displayed at national, mohafaza and caza level for the current year.
The second section displays data at national and mohafaza levels for at least the past 10 years.
You will find a first section where data is displayed at national, mohafaza and caza level for the current year.
The second section displays data at national and mohafaza levels for at least the past 10 years.
Chemical Surveillance
| Objectives | - To determine types of chemical incidents in Lebanon - To describe exposures by time, place and person - To determine the health risk of and the need for further investigation - To establish a comprehensive national chemical exposure database - To help develop a strategy for managing the consequences of the exposure - To provide information to support prevention and control programs |
|---|---|
| Sources of data | Data sources are both Emergency Department in public and private hospitals |
| Target case | Any person presenting at ER with acute or chronic toxicity, with or without signs of illness, with or without a toxic dose |
| Protocol | National protocol: En |
| Reporting form | Chemical incident reporting form |
| Results | Latest monthly national bulletin |
School based surveillance
| Objectives | - Monitor/measure weekly absenteeism proportions to be able to detect alerts and outbreaks - Assist decision makers on proper control measures, such as school closure |
|---|---|
| Sources of data | - Both public and private schools across Lebanon |
| Target events and diseases | - Absenteism - One of the following mentioned in any medical reports: gastro-enteritis, acute respiratory infection (influenza-like illness), measles/rubella, mumps, acute jaundice, tuberculosis, conjunctivitis - One of the following detected during inspetioc: lice, scabies |
| Guidelines | School-based surveillance guideline: Ar, En, Fr |
| Reporting form | Weekly school reporting form |
| Results | Latest weekly national bulletin |
Laboratory based surveillance
| Objectives | - Monitor/measure weekly positive tests proportions to be able to detect alerts - Identify outbreaks - Early rapid response - Avoid dissemination of diseases - Assist decision makers on proper control measures |
|---|---|
| Sources of data | - Data sources are both public and private laboratories across Lebanon. |
| Target tests | - Culture: CSF, blood, respiratory specimens, stool - Other stool test: direct parasitologic exam, rotativus antigen detection - Serology: VHA, Measles, Rubella - Inlfuenza: rapid test, PCR |
| Guidelines | Laboratory based mortality surveillance guideline: Ar, En, Fr |
| Reporting form | Weekly laboratory reporting form |
| Results | Latest weekly national bulletin |
Influenza Surveillance
| Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance (SARI) | |
|---|---|
| Rationale | Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) can be the result of several agents: viral, bacterial, and parasites, even though bacterial and parasitic agents can be less common. Among the viruses, influenza viruses are among the major causes of SARI. Any preventive or control measure related to Influenza requires the availability of surveillance, including the seasonality pattern and the causative agents. SARI surveillance in Lebanon was established in collaboration of the World Health Organization. |
| Objectives | The objectives of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in Lebanon are: - To estimate morbidity (incidence) of SARI in Lebanon - To identify baseline figures and alert/outbreak thresholds - To describe SARI cases by time, place, person, susceptibility, severity - To identify circulating influenza strains and detect novel viruses - To contribute to the global influenza surveillance |
| Sources of data | Data sources are hospital sentinel sites. Sentinel surveillance focuses on collection of data from specific pre-selected health sites to carefully monitor a specific disease. The collection of the data is systemic. The sites are selected based on key criteria: willingness, activity and representativeness of the population. The current sentinel sites are: - In the mohafazas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon: Rafik Hariri University Governmental Hospital (RHUH), Dahr Bacheq Governmental Hospital, Ain Wa Zen Hospital, Notre Dame de Secours Hospital - In the mohafazas of Bekaa and Baalbeck/Hermel: Zahleh Governmental Hospital and Khoury Hospital - In the mohafazas of North and Akkar: Tripoli Governmental Hospital and Mounla Hospital - In the mohafazas of South and Nabatieh: Saida Governmental Hospital, Hammoud Hospital and Nabih Berry / Nabatieh Governmental Hospital |
| Case Definition | An acute respiratory infection with: - History of fever or measured fever of >=38°C and cough - Onset within the last 10 days - Requiring hospitalization |
| Case Investigation | For each SARI case, data is collected including demographical and clinical data. Also, clinical specimens are collected for laboratory testing. The needed specimens are: nasopharyngeal swab (preferable one), oropharyngeal swab, bronchoalveolar lavage (if done), or tracheal aspirate (if patient intubated). |
| Laboratory Testing | Laboratory testing for SARI patients are performed at the National Influenza Center at RHUH. The laboratory testing includes RT-PCR for Influenza viruses A and B. |
| SARI forms | - Laboratory request form |
| Results | - Latest weekly bulletin - Link to WHO Flunet database |
| Intensive Care Unit Based Surveillance (ICU) | |
| Objectives | The main objectives of ICU-based surveillance are to: - Measure and monitor on weekly basis morbidity indicators related to severe acute respiratory infections in Lebanon - Detect abnormal pattern and novel agents at an early stage, and investigate them - Assist decision makers on proper control measures |
| Data sources | Data sources are both ICUs in public and private hospitals across Lebanon. The MOPH decision requested each hospital to designate a focal person from the ICU medical staff in charge of reporting to the MOPH. |
| Case definition | - Severe Acute Respiratory Infection with fever and dyspnea - Whatever was the etiological agent - Admitted to ICU |
| Data collection | Data is collected using a specific form. The form is sent every week by the hospital event if no cases were reported. The reporting form is a nominative line-listing. |
| Guidelines | ICU-based surveillance for acute respiratory infection: Ar, En, Fr |
| Weekly form | - ICU weekly reporting form |
| Results | - Latest weekly summary |
Hospital mortality surveillance
| Objectives | - Measure and monitor on weekly basis mortality indicators in hospital settings in Lebanon - Detect alerts and identify outbreaks at an early stage - Detect deaths from emerging and re-emerging diseases - Assist decision makers on proper control measures |
|---|---|
| Sources of data | - Data sources are both public and private hospitals across Lebanon. - The MOPH decision requested each hospital to designate a focal person from the medical staff to monitor deaths occurring in the hospital, register them into the nominative hospital death logbook, and report them to the MOPH using an anonymous form |
| Target deaths | - Deaths occurring in the hospital settings - Deaths received by the hospital settings |
| Guidelines | Hospital mortality surveillance guideline: Ar, En, Fr |
| Reporting form | Weekly reporting form |
| Results | Latest weekly national bulletin |
Medical center and dispensaries based reporting
| Objectives | - To enhance reporting from the ambulatory health system - To monitor communicable diseases by time, place and person - To detect alerts and outbreaks at local level |
|---|---|
| Sources of data | - Medical centers and dispensaries of the Ministry of Public Healht MOPH - Medical centers and dispensaries of the Ministry of Social Affairs MOSA - Other governemental medical centers and dispensaries - Medical centers and dispensaries of various Non-Governemetal Organizations NGO - Field medical units |
| Target diseases and syndromes | - Vaccine preventable diseases: acute flaccid paralysis, measles, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough) and mumps - For other communicable diseases: acute diarrhea, bloody/dysenteric diarrhea, cholera, acute jaundice, acute respiratory infection (including flu-like illness), unexplained fever, scabies and leishmania - Others: asthma, accidents/injuries |
| Guidelines | Medical center and dispensaries based surveillance guideline: Ar, En |
| Reporting form | Weekly reporting form |
| Results | - Latest weekly national bulletin |
Classical reporting system
| Contexte | Official surveillance system relies on official laws. The Lebanese Law related to communicable diseases issued on the 31st December 1957 requests from physicians and healthcare facilities to report to the MOPH selected communicable diseases. On the other hand, the MOPH issues continuously decisions, circulars, and memos that specifies technical aspects of the national surveillance system (case definitions, forms…). |
|---|---|
| Objectives | - Measure disease burden and describe the characteristics. This includes: a) Measure incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates; b) Describe event/disease by time, place and person; c) Monitor trends; d) Identify high risk populations or areas; e) Identify risk factors; f) Evaluate specific diseases control programs. - Detect alerts and outbreaks. The detection of an outbreak gives an opportunity to investigate, find etiologies and implement corrective measures, thus aiming to reduce cases and prevent later outbreaks. Early warning and response system refers to the outbreak detection at early stages; when timely corrective measures can prevent additional new cases and stop the natural evolution of the outbreak. |
| Target diseases and syndromes | 40 diseases and syndromes are targetted by the classical surveillance system. The diseases are displayed in 2 groups: immediate notification and weekly notification: - The immediate notifiable diseases and syndromes are: Acute Flaccid Paralysis, Anthrax, Cholera, Diphtheria, Food Poisoning, Hemorrhagic Fever, Influenza novel viruses, Invasive Coranaviruses, Measles, Meningitis, Meningococcal infection, Mumps, Pertussis, Plague, Rabies, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome, Smallpox, Tetanus including Tetanus Neonatorum, and Unusual Event - The weekly notifiable diseases and syndromes are: Bilharziasis, Brucellosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy), Gonococcal Infection,Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus 1, Hydatid Disease, Intestinal Infections, Legionellosis, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy, Malaria, Syphilis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever and Typhus. |
| Data Sources | All Physicians and Healthcare facilities |
| Guidelines | - Communicable diseases surveillance guideline: Ar, En - Communicable diseases surveillance standard operating procedures - part 1 (immediately notifiable diseases): En - Communicable diseases surveillance standard operating procedures - part 2 (weekly notifiable diseases): En |
| Case definitions | Refer to webpages "Notifiable Diseases" |
| Form | Reporting form |
| Results | Refer to webpage "Surveillance data" |
| Definition | A cancer registry is defined as a location, be it an office or institution, where collection, storage, analysis and interpretation of data on cancer patients take place (Jenson et al, 1991). |
|---|---|
| Objectives | - To measure cancer incidence - To describe cancer by time, place, persons and disease - To provide a national database for further epidemiological research |
| Case definition | Target cases are: - Incident cases by year of diagnosis - Malignant tumors confirmed by histopathology and/or hematology findings - Cancers of all sites |
| Sources of data | Data are collected through two main channels: the capture system (passive reporting) and the recapture system (active reporting). 1) The capture system: The capture system is based on physician’s routine reporting of cancer cases. Physician’s complete and send forms: - Directly from their clinic; or - Indirectly through the MOPH Drug Dispensing Center (DDC), where anti-cancer drugs are distributed to eligible patients 2) The recapture system: The recapture system is based on gathering information directly from histopathological and hematological laboratories. Data are collected in various ways, using hard or soft copies, or using database file or individual laboratory results depending on laboratories resources. This process is active since the NCR personnel actually contact the sites to obtain the necessary data. The recapture system validates and complements the capture approach. |
| Medical coding | The coding of cancer primary sites and cancer morphology is done using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3). The code includes information on the topography (primary site), the histology, the behavior and the grade of the tumor. The structure is C##.# M####/##, where: - C##.# specifies the primary site - M#### specifies the histology - /## specifies the behavior and the grade of the tumor |
| Reporting form | NCR reporting form |
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