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