A better infectious disease surveillance system is needed in Canada to detect respiratory pathogens

According to an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.220577.

Clinical and outbreak management (COM) platforms were essential tools in Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we need expanded surveillance systems to anticipate emerging viruses and support an effective public health response .

Strengthening surveillance in Canada remains essential. Although COM platforms are essential for clinical care and contact tracing, robust population-based surveillance systems can better provide actionable data on community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging respiratory pathogens. and re-emerging to inform proactive and equitable public health policy. “

Dr. Beate Sander, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute and Canada Research Chair in Economics of Infectious Diseases at the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario

The authors suggest that a system based on sewage testing, population-based testing, and genomic sequencing of samples will provide accurate and timely data for an integrated and adaptive approach. The system should make surveillance data available to the public and the public health community in real time.

“The funding and resources needed to develop, initiate and sustain expanded surveillance systems will be substantial, but the critical public health gains will include reduced morbidity and mortality, economic impact and societal disruption through public health action, policy decisions and programming,” says the lead author. Dr. Isha Berry, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.

The analysis was co-authored by researchers at the University of Toronto; Public Health Ontario; ICES; University Health Network; Trillium Health Partners; and St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto.