New Online Tool To Track Notifiable Infectious Diseases Across Ireland
Science/Medical/Technology
Thursday 2nd, May 2024
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has unveiled a the latest tool to help track and analyse notifiable infectious diseases in Ireland with a new data hub. This innovative platform currently features data on 79 notifiable diseases, providing an unprecedented tool for health professionals and the public alike.
For the first time, this digital initiative allows interactive access to disease data across a five year period, furnishing users with the ability to conduct detailed historical and comparative analysis. The new tool marks a significant step forward in the way the HPSC has traditionally delivered data, now enhanced by dynamic dashboards displaying trends and key epidemiological insights.
"It represents a change in the way HPSC delivers data to stakeholders and the public", explains an HPSC spokesperson. "It will improve how data is displayed and also give users access to underlying aggregate data".
The hub has been designed with user accessibility at its core, incorporating statistical measures and filtering capabilities that enable detailed examination of data by specific disease groups. This functionality not only aids professionals in monitoring and responding to health trends but also encourages public engagement with epidemiological data.
The introduction of the data hub follows extensive collaboration between the HPSC and People and Place Ltd., alongside contributions from key stakeholders such as laboratories, clinicians, and regional Departments of Public Health. These groups play essential roles in notifying infectious disease cases and managing the surveillance system.
This collaborative project has earned recognition, being selected as a finalist for an ESRI Ireland Customer Success Award. The accolade highlights the hub's significance in enhancing Ireland’s public health landscape through technological and informational advancements.
The data hub not only serves as a vital resource for health service prevention, preparedness, and response strategies but also promotes a better understanding of infectious diseases among the general populace, fostering what the HPSC describes as "citizen epidemiology".
With its launch, the HPSC has provided a user guide to help individuals navigate the new system, ensuring that the benefits of this resource are accessible to all. This initiative is expected to significantly influence Ireland's ability to protect the public from the threat of infectious diseases, heralding a new era in health surveillance and public safety in Ireland.
For the first time, this digital initiative allows interactive access to disease data across a five year period, furnishing users with the ability to conduct detailed historical and comparative analysis. The new tool marks a significant step forward in the way the HPSC has traditionally delivered data, now enhanced by dynamic dashboards displaying trends and key epidemiological insights.
"It represents a change in the way HPSC delivers data to stakeholders and the public", explains an HPSC spokesperson. "It will improve how data is displayed and also give users access to underlying aggregate data".
The hub has been designed with user accessibility at its core, incorporating statistical measures and filtering capabilities that enable detailed examination of data by specific disease groups. This functionality not only aids professionals in monitoring and responding to health trends but also encourages public engagement with epidemiological data.
The introduction of the data hub follows extensive collaboration between the HPSC and People and Place Ltd., alongside contributions from key stakeholders such as laboratories, clinicians, and regional Departments of Public Health. These groups play essential roles in notifying infectious disease cases and managing the surveillance system.
This collaborative project has earned recognition, being selected as a finalist for an ESRI Ireland Customer Success Award. The accolade highlights the hub's significance in enhancing Ireland’s public health landscape through technological and informational advancements.
The data hub not only serves as a vital resource for health service prevention, preparedness, and response strategies but also promotes a better understanding of infectious diseases among the general populace, fostering what the HPSC describes as "citizen epidemiology".
With its launch, the HPSC has provided a user guide to help individuals navigate the new system, ensuring that the benefits of this resource are accessible to all. This initiative is expected to significantly influence Ireland's ability to protect the public from the threat of infectious diseases, heralding a new era in health surveillance and public safety in Ireland.
