An information strategy for the epidemic control chain

Abstract

This article presents the results of the chain analysis of the epidemic control chain according to the method of chain-computerisation. The goal of the epidemic control chain is to prevent the disruption of society that is caused by disease or excess of preventive measures. The current infrastructure of this chain is focused on combating known infectious diseases. Research has shown that the threat of an outbreak of an unknown infectious disease is steadily increasing. A chain information system could possibly be a solution to ensure that correct decisions can also be made in the future with respect to the prevention and control of epidemics. A chain analysis assesses beforehand the chance of success of a chain information system. A theoretical and practical introduction to this chain analysis methodology can be found in the founding article in this journal (Grijpink, 2010). This chain analysis of the epidemic control chain is part of the Chain Landscape Research Programme at the Department of Information and Computing Sciences of Utrecht University. According to this chain analysis, a chain information system for the epidemic control chain is necessary and, in time, feasible. Therefore, the information strategy advice is to work, step by step, towards a chain information system containing identifying data on infectious diseases, a geographical code to specify the risk area and an escalation score that indicates the level of health risk and social disruption expected.