Automated outbreak detection systems in the EU: Requirements and challenges for its implementation, 2023/2024

Automated outbreak detection can enhance infectious disease surveillance by enabling early identification of outbreaks and supporting timely public health measures. However, information on its current use by national public health institutes (NPHI) remains limited. This paper provides an updated and extended overview of automated outbreak detection usage in the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). Key findings were gathered through the Joint Action United4Surveillance via an online survey of 21 countries, an in-presence workshop, and online meetings with NPHI, focusing on three objectives: assessing current demand for automated outbreak detection, examining the availability of necessary prerequisites within existing surveillance systems, and identifying challenges and requirements for implementation. Findings indicate that seven countries currently have automated outbreak detection systems (AODS) in place. While many countries have sufficient surveillance data and a clear demand for automated outbreak detection, adoption is often limited by constrained funding and lack of IT resources. While the specific methods in existing AODS differ, overall demands and outputs are similar, suggesting a single tool could serve multiple countries. Capacity building as part of EU-funded Joint Actions can bridge these gaps by developing sustainable tools and fostering cross-country collaboration.