Annual Report 2010: Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) Surveillance and Early Detection of Communicable Diseases

The system's vision is to provide timely and accurate information to support public health decision-making and response to disease outbreaks. The goal of DEWS is to detect and respond to disease outbreaks in a timely and effective manner, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission and minimizing the impact of outbreaks on public health. DEWS uses a combination of surveillance methods, including sentinel site surveillance, to monitor disease trends and detect outbreaks. Sentinel sites are strategically located throughout the country to provide a representative sample of the population. The system relies on a network of healthcare providers and laboratories to report disease data, which is then analyzed and disseminated to public health officials. In 2010, DEWS monitored a range of diseases, including acute respiratory infections (ARI), pneumonia, acute watery diarrhea (AWD), bloody diarrhea, malaria, typhoid fever, measles, meningitis, and acute viral hepatitis. The system also tracked outbreaks of diseases such as measles, cholera, influenza A H1N1, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). According to the 2010 annual report, ARI-cough and cold was the most common disease reported, accounting for 34% of all disease cases. ARI-pneumonia was the second most common disease, accounting for 23% of all cases. Acute watery diarrhea was the third most common disease, accounting for 15% of all cases. The report also highlights several outbreaks that occurred in 2010, including measles outbreaks in the eastern and southern regions, cholera outbreaks in the western and central regions, and influenza A H1N1 outbreaks in the northern and central regions. The system also reported outbreaks of CCHF in the eastern and southern regions. In terms of mortality, the report indicates that pneumonia was the leading cause of death, accounting for 24% of all deaths. Meningitis was the second leading cause of death, accounting for 17% of all deaths. Acute diarrheal diseases were the third leading cause of death, accounting for 14% of all deaths. The report also provides regional morbidity and mortality data, highlighting variations in disease trends across different regions of the country. The eastern region reported the highest morbidity rates for ARI, pneumonia, and acute watery diarrhea, while the western region reported the highest mortality rates for these diseases. The 2010 annual report also highlights the importance of capacity building and health system strengthening in supporting the effective functioning of DEWS. The system relies on a network of healthcare providers and laboratories to report disease data, and therefore, it is essential to build the capacity of these providers and laboratories to ensure the accuracy and completeness of disease data. Overall, the 2010 annual report highlights the importance of DEWS in supporting public health decision-making and response to disease outbreaks in Afghanistan. The system provides timely and accurate information on disease trends and outbreaks, enabling public health officials to take effective action to reduce the risk of disease transmission and minimize the impact of outbreaks on public health.