Epidemic detection, monitoring, and response during humanitarian crises

Populations in fragile, conflict and humanitarian settings often face a high risk of epidemics, due to a combination of factors including poor living conditions, population displacement, disruption of vaccination services and other disease control programmes, and restrictions to health care access. The risk is further compounded by challenges in detecting, monitoring, and responding to epidemic threats in a timely fashion, in contexts where surveillance systems may be disrupted and where outbreak control strategies must be tailored to the specific context of the crisis. 

The aim of this Collection is to compile case studies, document lessons learned, describe innovative approaches, and present original research relating to the detection, investigation, analysis, monitoring, and response to epidemics during humanitarian crises.

The Collection welcomes a variety of manuscripts around the key themes of surveillance, monitoring and response in humanitarian settings including (but not limited to):

• Approaches to epidemic detection and response monitoring.
• Case studies of outbreak investigations and response, including innovative response interventions and lessons learned.
• Studies quantifying and evaluating the impact of interventions.
• Approaches to understanding contextual, social, and other factors impacting epidemic spread and control, including through mixed methods.
• Analytical methods and epidemic forecasting, including methods to account for imperfect data in rapidly changing contexts.
• Innovative tools and software to support surveillance, monitoring, and analysis.