Evaluating the Ability of a Syndromic Surveillance System to Detect Heat-Related Illnesses in Houston, TX, 2009-2012

Authors

  • Nathan Wang Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States
  • Biru Yang Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States
  • Wesley McNeely Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States
  • Salma Khuwaja Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States
  • Raouf Arafat Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5094

Abstract

Preparing for extreme heat events and monitoring their effects on public health is a vital role for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS). Since heat-related illnesses are not a reportable condition in the state of Texas, this study is aimed at evaluating the ability of a syndromic surveillance system (RODS) to detect heat-related illnesses during heat event of the years 2009-2012 as well as identifying the areas of Houston that had the highest incidence of heat-related morbidity. Preliminary results indicate that RODS was able detected an increase in heat-related illnesses during the record-setting summer of 2011.

Author Biography

Nathan Wang, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, United States

Nathan Wang is an epidemiologist specialist with the Houston Department of Health and Human Services. His primary responsibility is to monitor and analyze syndromic surveillance data. His research interests include integrating syndromic surveillance data with other public health surveillance tools in order to inform decision-makers and the public on major public health burdens.

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Published

2014-03-09

How to Cite

Wang, N., Yang, B., McNeely, W., Khuwaja, S., & Arafat, R. (2014). Evaluating the Ability of a Syndromic Surveillance System to Detect Heat-Related Illnesses in Houston, TX, 2009-2012. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v6i1.5094

Issue

Section

Poster Presentations