Enhanced event-based surveillance for imported diseases during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Abstract

In 2021, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, undertook enhanced event-based surveillance (EBS) for infectious diseases occurring overseas that have potential for importation (excluding coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games (the Games). The pre-existing EBS system was enhanced using the World Health Organization Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources system and the BlueDot Epidemic Intelligence platform. The enhanced EBS before and during the Games did not detect any major public health event that would warrant action for the Games. However, information from multiple sources helped us identify events, characterize risk and improve confidence in risk assessment. The collaboration also reduced the surveillance workload of the host country, while ensuring the quality of surveillance, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risks, Epidemics, and Prevention Measures of Infectious Diseases in Major Sports Events: Scoping Review

“…More multisource data and more advanced technologies were integrated into the monitoring system, including online public opinion monitoring based on natural language processing technology, risk classification monitoring of international passengers based on global aviation data, and the risk early warning model of infectious diseases [ 22 , 24 , 73 ]. In addition, enhanced event-based surveillance was undertaken by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, to identify infectious diseases occurring overseas (excluding COVID-19) that had potential for importation during the Tokyo Olympics [ 74 ].…”

Preventing the next pandemic: Use of artificial intelligence for epidemic monitoring and alerts

“…It is not directly comparable with ProMED Mail, which is qualitative in nature, but it has also provided important early warnings from observations of health professionals in the field. 13 There are few formal evaluations of other systems in the peer-reviewed literature. However, EIOS and Blue Dot were found to provide additional intelligence to the usual event-based surveillance used in Japan during the Tokyo Olympics.…”

“…However, EIOS and Blue Dot were found to provide additional intelligence to the usual event-based surveillance used in Japan during the Tokyo Olympics. 13 ProMED and HealthMap have been able to quantify the risk of Ebola retrospectively in the 2013–2016 West African Ebola epidemic spread 1–4 weeks in advance. 5 More research is needed for continual improvement of such systems.…”

Use of Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources for global event-based surveillance of infectious diseases for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

“…Mass gatherings can pose a risk of public health emergencies, and event-based surveillance (EBS) for these events is highly recommended. ( 1 ) EBS is the organized collection and triage of public health signals that are systematically verified and assessed based on their risk to public health. ( 2 ) It is used to detect public health signals in countries where mass gatherings occur, as well as public health threats from participating countries.…”

“…( 2 ) It is used to detect public health signals in countries where mass gatherings occur, as well as public health threats from participating countries. ( 1 ) During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Health Protection Agency (currently Public Health England) implemented EBS to provide timely and reliable national epidemic intelligence. EBS sourced events by screening local health authority reports and electronic applications.…”