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Combatting infectious diseases in Northern Europe: The importance of information exchange

Combatting infectious diseases in Northern Europe: The importance of information exchange. Preben Aavitsland Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Canada outbreak. F,G. F,G. Ireland. K. K. A. Hong Kong outbreak. H,J. I, L,M. H,J. B.

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Combatting infectious diseases in Northern Europe: The importance of information exchange

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  1. Combatting infectious diseases in Northern Europe: The importance of information exchange Preben Aavitsland Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Norwegian Institute of Public Health

  2. Canada outbreak F,G F,G Ireland K K A Hong Kong outbreak H,J I, L,M H,J B C,D,E I,L,M B C,D,E USA 1 HCW Vietnam outbreak Singapore outbreak Thailand Germany The early spread of SARS Guangdong province, China A A Hotel MHong Kong MMWR 2003; 52:241-8(CDC)

  3. Combatting infectious diseases • The global nature of infectious diseases • The need for rapid communications • ”Information must travel faster than microbes” • SARS!!

  4. Background in mid 1990s • Rebuilding relationships after the fall of the iron curtain • Little contact between public health institutes • Little exchange of information • Language barrier • Different professional traditions • No literature (books, journals) in common

  5. Barriers to information sharing • Language • National languages • Lingua franca: English or Russian? • Costs • Journal prescriptions • Reference books • PCs and Internet connections

  6. EpiNorth - a network and information platform • Started in 2000 • Building on previous networks • A journal, four annual issues, 5000 copies • A low-tech web site with 5000 monthly visitors • Editors • Editorial Board • Editorial Secretariat • www.epinorth.org • Funding by Nordic Council of Ministers

  7. EpiNorth - present modules • EpiNorth - a peer-reviewed scientific journal (paper + www) • EpiData - an annual report of communicable diseases for Northern Europe (paper + www) • EpiVax - a guide to the vaccination programmes in Northern Europe (www)

  8. EpiNorth - future modules • EpiNews - a dynamic news service on outbreaks and trends (www) • EpiTrain - a training programme in communicable disease epidemiology (www) • EpiLinks - a library of web links (www)

  9. Why important? • Common problems • Cross-border problems • international outbreaks • Movement of people • EU membership • Trade in food and animals

  10. Conclusions • More information exchange is needed between East and West in Northern Europe • EpiNorth is a useful tool • Both Russian and English is needed • Visit EpiNorth at www.epinorth.org

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