title: Evidence and rationale for the World Health Organization recommended standards for Japanese encephalitis surveillance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the most important form of viral encephalitis in Asia. Surveillance for the disease in many countries has been limited. To improve collection of accurate surveillance data in order to increase understanding of the full impact of JE and monitor control programs, World Health Organization (WHO) Recommended Standards for JE Surveillance have been developed. To aid acceptance of the Standards, we describe the process of development, provide the supporting evidence, and explain the rationale for the recommendations made in the document.
  
  
  METHODS
  A JE Core Working Group was formed in 2002 and worked on development of JE surveillance standards. A series of questions on specific topics was initially developed. A literature review was undertaken and the findings were discussed and documented. The group then prepared a draft document, with emphasis placed on the feasibility of implementation in Asian countries. A field test version of the Standards was published by WHO in January 2006. Feedback was then sought from countries that piloted the Standards and from public health professionals in forums and individual meetings to modify the Standards accordingly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After revisions, a final version of the JE surveillance standards was published in August 2008. The supporting information is presented here together with explanations of the rationale and levels of evidence for specific recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of the supporting evidence and rationale should help to facilitate successful implementation of the JE surveillance standards in JE-endemic countries which will in turn enable better understanding of disease burden and the impact of control programs.
authors.affiliation: PATH, Seattle, WA, USA. shills@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.forename: Alya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marfin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Featherstone
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hombach
authors.forename: Pem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Namgyal
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015980:Public Health Practice / Q000592:standards*; D014944:World Health Organization