The ideal situation is to have an anticipation of epidemic arrivals for rapid response to the epidemic rather than absent or late reporting of epidemic arrivals that translates into a certain, possibly high magnitude outbreaks.
Reports of epidemics in the highlands of western Kenya increased in frequency in the early 1990s (10, 12, 54, 55 ); as a consequence, detection and control of epidemics became a priority for the recently launched national malaria strategic plan (23 ).
There were reports of epidemics of dementia in specific dialysis centres were the aluminium content of the water used for dialysis was later found to be very high, suggesting that aluminium loading of patients was occurring from the water.
Reports of epidemics of "throat distemper" began to appear in the 1500s, but before the 19th century, diphtheria was known around the world by many different names, such as Syrian ulcer, membranous angina, malignant croup, and Boulogne sore throat.
Although we are unaware of any report of epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases in Switzerland at that time, it is well know that social disruption related to the war led to epidemics of STD elsewhere in the world, even in areas not directly involved in the conflict [ 32].
However, data were completed with information from reports of epidemic investigations and interventions (105 reports filed from 1999 through 2005) and the testimonies of medical teams interviewed during field visits.
Those 14 papers discarded reported either on mathematical models of potential interventions or reported on epidemics occurring outside of the time frame but with delayed publication or in one case on an epidemic in a hospital.
This expanded surveillance probably facilitated better reporting of this epidemic phase of the VL cycle in Bahia.
Most reported cases of epidemic meningitis represent clinical diagnoses that lack laboratory confirmation because of the low culture rate for N. meningitidis.
Not long ago, reports of possible epidemics came to the offices of international health officials by telex.
