Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

 Epidemic Surveillance Training Course

Course Overview

The Epidemic Surveillance Training Course is designed to equip public health professionals, epidemiologists, healthcare workers, humanitarian responders, laboratory personnel, emergency managers, government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations with advanced knowledge and practical skills in epidemic surveillance, infectious disease monitoring, outbreak detection, epidemiological surveillance systems, public health intelligence, disease reporting, early warning systems, health information management, emergency preparedness, and epidemic response. As emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, climate-sensitive illnesses, and cross-border disease transmission continue to threaten global health security, organizations require robust surveillance systems capable of timely detection, rapid response, and effective decision-making. This course provides participants with practical competencies to establish and strengthen surveillance systems that support evidence-based public health interventions and emergency preparedness.

Participants will learn how to design, implement, manage, and evaluate Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) systems, utilize event-based surveillance, indicator-based surveillance, syndromic surveillance, sentinel surveillance, laboratory-based surveillance, and leverage modern digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Machine Learning, Mobile Data Collection, KoboToolbox, Open Data Kit (ODK), Electronic Health Records (EHR), Health Information Systems (HIS), cloud computing, dashboards, predictive analytics, and digital epidemiology. The course emphasizes surveillance data quality, epidemiological analysis, outbreak investigation, risk assessment, data visualization, and real-time reporting for improved epidemic preparedness and public health decision-making.

The training further explores international surveillance standards and best practices based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) frameworks, Incident Management Systems (IMS), One Health Approach, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and humanitarian health coordination mechanisms. Participants will develop practical skills through simulations, surveillance exercises, epidemic investigations, GIS mapping, dashboard development, and case studies drawn from real public health emergencies.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to establish comprehensive epidemic surveillance systems, strengthen disease monitoring networks, perform epidemiological investigations, analyze surveillance data, generate early warning alerts, coordinate multi-sector outbreak responses, integrate digital surveillance technologies, improve public health preparedness, support national disease control programs, and contribute to resilient health systems capable of responding effectively to future epidemics and pandemics.

Course Objectives

1. Understand principles and components of epidemic surveillance systems.
2. Design and strengthen integrated disease surveillance frameworks.
3. Conduct epidemiological investigations and outbreak detection.
4. Improve surveillance data collection, quality assurance, and reporting.
5. Utilize digital technologies for disease surveillance and monitoring.
6. Apply GIS and spatial epidemiology in epidemic surveillance.
7. Strengthen laboratory surveillance and public health intelligence.
8. Coordinate emergency preparedness and outbreak response.
9. Apply international surveillance standards and regulations.
10. Build sustainable epidemic preparedness and surveillance capacity.

Organization Benefits

1. Strengthens institutional epidemic preparedness and resilience.
2. Improves early detection of disease outbreaks.
3. Enhances public health surveillance and reporting systems.
4. Supports evidence-based health planning and decision-making.
5. Strengthens emergency response coordination.
6. Improves surveillance data quality and analytics.
7. Enhances laboratory surveillance integration.
8. Supports compliance with international health regulations.
9. Builds workforce competency in surveillance technologies.
10. Reduces epidemic risks through timely intervention and response.

Target Participants

This course is designed for epidemiologists, surveillance officers, public health specialists, healthcare professionals, medical officers, nurses, laboratory scientists, emergency response teams, health information officers, disease surveillance coordinators, monitoring and evaluation specialists, humanitarian health professionals, NGO program staff, UN agency personnel, Ministry of Health officials, researchers, data analysts, emergency operations personnel, environmental health officers, veterinary public health officers, One Health practitioners, policymakers, and professionals involved in disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness, outbreak investigation, emergency response, and health information management.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Epidemic Surveillance

• Principles of epidemic surveillance
• Types of surveillance systems
• Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR)
• International Health Regulations (IHR)
• Public health surveillance frameworks
• Surveillance ethics and governance

General Case Study: Designing a national integrated epidemic surveillance system that combines community reporting, laboratory surveillance, digital health platforms, and public health intelligence for timely outbreak detection.

Module 2: Disease Detection and Epidemiological Investigation

• Case definitions and disease notification
• Outbreak investigation procedures
• Epidemiological data collection
• Contact tracing methodologies
• Laboratory confirmation processes
• Risk assessment techniques

General Case Study: Conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation following the detection of an unusual cluster of infectious disease cases in multiple districts.

Module 3: Surveillance Data Management and Analytics

• Surveillance data quality assurance
• Data validation and cleaning
• Statistical analysis of surveillance data
• Data visualization and dashboards
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Predictive epidemiological analytics

General Case Study: Developing a national epidemic surveillance dashboard integrating laboratory reports, GIS mapping, trend analysis, and predictive analytics to support real-time decision-making.

Module 4: Digital Surveillance Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence in epidemic surveillance
• Mobile data collection using KoboToolbox and ODK
• Electronic Health Information Systems
• Cloud-based surveillance platforms
• Remote sensing applications
• Machine learning for outbreak prediction

General Case Study: Implementing an AI-supported digital surveillance platform integrating mobile reporting, GIS mapping, cloud computing, and laboratory information systems for early warning and rapid response.

Module 5: Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordination

• Emergency Operations Centers (EOC)
• Incident Management Systems (IMS)
• Multi-sector coordination
• Risk communication
• Community-based surveillance
• Humanitarian health coordination

General Case Study: Coordinating government agencies, healthcare facilities, laboratories, humanitarian organizations, and community health workers during an emerging epidemic using integrated emergency management systems.

Module 6: Building Sustainable Surveillance Systems

• Surveillance system evaluation
• Continuous quality improvement
• Workforce capacity development
• One Health surveillance integration
• Future epidemic preparedness
• Sustainability planning

General Case Study: Developing a sustainable national epidemic surveillance strategy integrating human health, animal health, environmental monitoring, Artificial Intelligence, GIS, laboratory networks, digital reporting systems, emergency preparedness planning, predictive analytics, and international public health standards to strengthen resilience against future epidemics and pandemics.

General Information

1. Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.
2. Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.
3. Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.
4. Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).
5. Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.
6. Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.
7. Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.
8. Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.
9. Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.
10. Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.
11. Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.
12. Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.
13. Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.
14. Website: Visit www.fdc-k.org for more information.