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Table 8 Different sources of information in relation to the seasonal influenza

From: Cross-sectional telephone surveys as a tool to study epidemiological factors and monitor seasonal influenza activity in Malta

Source of Data

Type of Data

Advantages

Disadvantages

Telephone Surveys

- Influenza Symptoms

- Number of influenza cases

- Number of hospitalisation due to influenza

- Respondents’ medical information

- Other dynamics in relation to the influenza

- Easy to collect

- Has the possibility to include extensive information about the outbreak

- Data can be compared against non-influenza individuals

- Relies on self-diagnosis and self-reporting

GP reporting

- Consultations

- Diagnosed

- Medical data

- Weekly data

- Consultation include other cases

- Average of 6 doctors out of 300 reporting cases; low coverage

Google Trends

- Search by popularity

- Quick and easy to collect

- Data relies on internet connected individuals only

- Data does not tell you the severity of the outbreak

Online surveys

Not available in Malta

Serological data

Not available in Malta