Improved detection of emergent infectious disease threats in the aftermath of armed conflicts and natural disasters

Almost 90% of the largest epidemics recorded worldwide between 1994 and 2004 occurred in settings of armed conflicts or natural disasters. Nowadays, according to Dr. Francesco Checchi, the design of Early Warning Alert and Response (EWARN) surveillance systems, particularly in emergencies, should rely on immediate alert and reporting instead of formal, heavily data-driven approaches. Checchi’s field and desk-based evaluations of surveillance systems in Pakistan and elsewhere informed the new WHO guidelines for EWARN in emergencies.