Using real-time syndromic surveillance to assess the health impact of the 2013 heatwave in England

Alex J Elliot; Angie Bone; Roger Morbey; Helen E Hughes; Sally Harcourt; Sue Smith; Paul Loveridge; Helen K Green; Richard Pebody; Nick Andrews; Virginia Murray; Mike Catchpole; Graham Bickler; Brian McCloskey; Gillian Smith

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.031

Using real-time syndromic surveillance to assess the health impact of the 2013 heatwave in England

Environ Res. 2014 Nov:135:31-6. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.031. Epub 2014 Sep 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, Public Health England, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Extreme Events and Health Protection, Public Health England, London SE1 8UG, UK.
³ Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, Public Health England, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK.
⁴ Respiratory Diseases Department, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
⁵ Statistics and Modelling Economics Department, Public Health England, London NW9 5HT, UK.
⁶ Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London NW9 5HT, UK.
⁷ Operations Centre, Public Health England, Horsham RH12 1XA, UK.
⁸ Global Health, Public Health England, London SE1 8UG, UK.

PMID: 25262071
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.031

Abstract

Heatwaves are a seasonal threat to public health. During July 2013 England experienced a heatwave; we used a suite of syndromic surveillance systems to monitor the impact of the heatwave. Significant increases in heatstroke and sunstroke were observed during 7-10 July 2013. Syndromic surveillance provided an innovative and effective service, supporting heatwave planning and providing early warning of the impact of extreme heat thereby improving the public health response to heatwaves.

Keywords: Heatstroke; Heatwave; Public health; Sunstroke; Syndromic surveillance; Thunderstorm.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

England / epidemiology
Epidemiological Monitoring*
Extreme Heat / adverse effects*
Heat Stroke / epidemiology*
Humans
Incidence
Sunstroke / epidemiology*