Publications

Below are major highlights of the bulletin:

1. IDSR Performance
Completeness and timeliness of weekly IDSR reports remained well above the 80% national target of all levels of the health system
Immediate notification of suspected cases (within 24 hours) increased from 20% in week 40, 2016 to 100% as of week 52, 2017
It was recorded of an increase in reporting of IDSR diseases and events with a total of 4,729 suspected cases reported for 10 immediately reportable diseases and events in 2017 compared to 3,812 in 2016
Reporting of suspected cases with case-based forms or line list increased from 30% in week 40, 2016 to 90% as of week 52, 2017
Over 80% of the suspected cases recorded (those requiring laboratory confirmation) were investigated by Laboratory
Joint national supportive supervision/mentorship conducted in 15 (100%) counties showed an appreciable level of compliance in the implementation of IDSR core functions

2. Outbreaks and Humanitarian Events
A total of 39 outbreaks and 3 humanitarian events were detected, investigated, and responded to
There were investigation reports for 85% of outbreaks compared to 53% in 2016
Eighty-two (82%) of outbreaks were responded to within 48 hours compared to 37% in 2016

3. Public Health Diagnostics
Sustained public health diagnostic capacity at three laboratories - National Public Health Reference, Jackson F. Doe, and Phebe hospital laboratories
Improved in-country public health diagnostic capacity for five IDSR priority diseases in 2016 to seven IDSR priority disease by week 52 in 2017
Lassa fever and meningitis were added
Laboratory screening capacity for rabies was developed
Overall laboratory turn-around-time improved by 15% from 35% in the first half of the year, to 50% of alerts being confirmed or ruled-out by laboratory testing within 4-days of alert notification, by the end of 2017

4. Electronic Disease Surveillance
E-IDSR was launched and piloted in two counties (Grand Cape Mount and Margibi) covering all health facilities
Auto-Visual Acute Flaccid Paralysis Detection and Reporting (AVADAR) was launched and piloted in four health districts in Montserrado County

Use of open data kit (ODK) to conduct IDSR supervision commenced thus enhancing visualization, rapid transmission, and validity of reports
5. Training and Capacity Building
A total of six hundred twenty-two (622) national and county level staff were trained  as trainers in IDSR
This comprised 285 local authorities trained in IDSR leadership and coordination and 337 technical staff trained (at least each county has 5 IDSR modular trainers)
The Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program (LFETP) has trained 146 surveillance officers at the national, county and district levels of the surveillance system in the Frontline and 14 national and county officers in Intermediate FETP