propose a new approach to finding cases – what other surveillance system or activity would you recommend and why?

Given the nature of monkeypox, a disease that is primarily zoonotic and has the potential for human-to-human transmission, a Syndromic Surveillance System could be a beneficial approach. This system is used to identify illness clusters early, before diagnoses are confirmed and reported to public health agencies, and to mobilize rapid responses, which is particularly useful in detecting early signs of potential outbreaks.

Here's a step-by-step summary of this approach:

1. Implement Syndromic Surveillance: This involves monitoring symptom patterns or clusters within a population to detect a potential public health event. For example, a sudden increase in individuals presenting with fever and rash in healthcare facilities could be an early sign of a monkeypox outbreak.

2. Use of Health Information Technology: Syndromic surveillance relies heavily on health information technologies. Electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine platforms can be used to track symptom patterns and trends in real-time, allowing for quicker detection and response.

3. Training Healthcare Providers: Healthcare providers should be trained to recognize the symptoms of monkeypox and to report any suspected cases or unusual symptom patterns immediately. This is crucial for the success of syndromic surveillance.

4. Public Engagement: Encourage the public to report symptoms through hotlines or digital platforms. This can help detect cases that may not seek medical attention.

5. Collaboration with Laboratories: Rapid and accurate laboratory testing is crucial to confirm suspected monkeypox cases. Strengthening the collaboration between healthcare providers and laboratories can ensure timely confirmation of cases.

6. Data Analysis: Regular analysis of the data collected should be conducted to identify trends and patterns, which can help predict and prevent outbreaks.

The advantage of this approach is that it allows for early detection of potential monkeypox cases, even before laboratory confirmation, enabling a rapid public health response to prevent further spread. It also utilizes existing healthcare data, making it a cost-effective approach.