Evaluation of ProMED-mail as an electronic early warning system for emerging animal diseases: 1996 to 2004.
OBJECTIVE
To identify emerging animal and zoonotic diseases and associated geographic distribution, disease agents, animal hosts, and seasonality of reporting in the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED)-mail electronic early warning system.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
10,490 disease reports.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics were collated for all animal disease reports appearing on the ProMED-mail system from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2004.


RESULTS
Approximately 30% of reports concerned events in the United States; reports were next most common in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Russia, and China. Rabies, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and anthrax were reported consistently over the study period, whereas avian influenza, Ebola virus, and Hantavirus infection were reported frequently in approximately half of the study years. Reports concerning viral agents composed more than half of the postings. Humans affected by zoonotic disease accounted for a third of the subjects. Cattle were affected in 1,080 reports, and wildlife species were affected in 825 reports. For the 10,490 postings studied, there was a retraction rate of 0.01 and a correction rate of 0.02.


CONCLUSIONS
ProMED-mail provided global coverage, but gaps in coverage for individual countries were detected. The value of a global electronic reporting system for monitoring emerging diseases over a 9-year period illustrated how new technologies can augment disease surveillance strategies. The number of animal and zoonotic diseases highlights the importance of animals in the study of emerging diseases.
Cowen
Peter
P
ProMED-mail, International Society of Infectious Diseases, 181 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115-2577, USA.
Garland
Tam
T
Hugh-Jones
Martin E
ME
Shimshony
Arnon
A
Handysides
Stuart
S
Kaye
Donald
D
Madoff
Lawrence C
LC
Pollack
Marjorie P
MP
Woodall
Jack
J
D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D012189:Retrospective Studies