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Rapid and
timely reporting of cases of SARS-CoV disease and dissemination of
surveillance information are key to the management of a SARS outbreak.
As part of the SARS Incident and Command Management System (see Supplement A), CDC has developed a web- based reporting system for SARS RUI and
SARS-CoV disease cases. This system allows states to report data on SARS
RUIs and cases via one of two secure mechanisms based on the capacities
at the state health departments: 1) direct entry into a web-based interface,
available to all states with minimal technological requirements, or 2)
upload of data from electronic databases maintained at the state into
the web-based interface. Data that are reported to CDC will be exported
to state health departments daily as an analyzable data set in a pre-defined
format. Results of laboratory testing at CDC will be integrated into
the data transmitted to the states. For more information on the web-based
reporting system, contact the CDC Secure Data Network staff via telephone
(800-532-9929) or email (cdcsdn@cdc.gov).
SARS-CoV
disease has recently been designated a nationally notifiable disease
to be reported to the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). CDC is encouraging states to use either direct entry into
or data upload to the SARS web information system for SARS RUI and
SARS-CoV disease cases. When clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory
data reported from states to the CDC SARS web-based reporting system
meet the criteria for a reportable SARS-CoV disease case, a record will
automatically be added to NNDSS and states will be notified of the transfer
of data to NNDSS.
Contact tracing and monitoring will require substantial data management
resources. The information technology needs for t imely surveillance
and management of contacts of SARS cases are currently under discussion
among CDC and partners in state and local health departments, and development
of a contact tracing database is ongoing.
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