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Communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of conflict and mass displacement in Syria

Ismail, SA; Abbara, A; Collin, SM; Orcutt, M; Coutts, AP; Maziak, W; Sahloul, Z; ... Fouad, FM; + view all (2016) Communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of conflict and mass displacement in Syria. International Journal of Infectious Diseases , 47 pp. 15-22. 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.011. Green open access

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Abstract

Objectives: To describe trends in major communicable diseases in Syria during the ongoing conflict, and the challenges to communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of dynamic, large-scale population displacement, unplanned mass gatherings, and disruption to critical infrastructure. Methods: A rapid review of the peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature from 2005 to 2015 was performed, augmented by secondary analysis of monitoring data from two disease early warning systems currently operational in Syria, focusing mainly on three diseases: tuberculosis (TB), measles, and polio. Results: Trend data show discrepancies in case report numbers between government and nongovernment controlled areas, especially for TB, but interpretation is hampered by uncertainties over sentinel surveillance coverage and base population numbers. Communicable disease control has been undermined by a combination of governance fragmentation, direct and indirect damage to facilities and systems, and health worker flight. Conclusions: Five years into the crisis, some progress has been made in disease surveillance, but governance and coordination problems, variable immunization coverage, and the dynamic and indiscriminate nature of the conflict continue topose a serious threattopopulationhealthinSyria andsurrounding countries.The risk of major cross-border communicable disease outbreaks is high, and challenges for health in a post-conflict Syria are formidable

Type: Article
Title: Communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of conflict and mass displacement in Syria
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.011
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.011
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
Keywords: Syria Public health Conflict Communicable disease Mass gathering
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10045787
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