Portuguese Journal of Public Health (Apr 2020)

Epidemic Surveillance of Covid-19: Considering Uncertainty and Under-Ascertainment

  • Vasco Ricoca Peixoto,
  • Carla Nunes,
  • Alexandre Abrantes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000507587

Abstract

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Epidemic surveillance is a fundamental part of public health practice. Addressing under-ascertainment of cases is relevant in most surveillance systems, especially in pandemics of new diseases with a large spectrum of clinical presentations as it may influence timings of policy implementation and public risk perception. From this perspective, this article presents and discusses early evidence on under-ascertainment of COVID-19 and its motifs, options for surveillance, and reflections around their importance to tailor public health measures. In the case of COVID-19, systematically addressing and estimating under-ascertainment of cases is essential to tailor timely public health measures, and communicating these findings is of the utmost importance for policy making and public perception.

Keywords