Analysis of the Korean Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance System: Mass Type Acute Diarrheal Syndrome

Ahn, Shin; Lee, Jae Ho; Kim, Won; Lim, Kyung Soo

EDSS is designed to play a key role as frontline supervision in real time monitoring the disease outbreak. Apt role could provide timely actions to cope with the disease, which is essential in dealing with bioterrorism. Buehler et al. [13] . pointed out that the following factors must be fulfilled in achieving effectiveness of the EDSS. First, surveillance system must be highly sensitive, second, the system should have high positive predictive value and third, system needs to be capable of early detection. Current EDSS in Korea has major defect in accuracy of data collecting system, which hampers early detection and preparedness of disease outbreak. Henceforth, to improve reliability, data collection must be automated by linking electronic medical record rather than daily inputting system by the reporters, and further improvements and studies are required.