Establishing web-based syndromic surveillance for Hajj: a teaching case-study
Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla, Azhar Mujib, Sami Almudaraa, Shady Kamal, Mohammed Al-Thebyani, Zayid Al Mayahi, Mohamad Al-Yousef, Abdullah Turkistani, Ahmed Elganainy, Yousef Khader
Corresponding author: Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla, Saudi Field Epidemiology Training Program, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Received: 05 Mar 2019 - Accepted: 09 Mar 2019 - Published: 14 May 2019
Domain: Epidemiology
Keywords: Hajj, syndromic surveillance, Saudi Arabia
This article is published as part of the supplement Case Studies for Public Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region - 2019, commissioned by Yousef S Khader (yskhader@just.edu.jo).
©Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla et al. Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla et al. Establishing web-based syndromic surveillance for Hajj: a teaching case-study. Pan African Medical Journal. 2019;33(1):2. [doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2019.33.1.18625]
Available online at: https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/series/33/1/2/full
Case study 
Establishing web-based syndromic surveillance for Hajj: a teaching case-study
Establishing web-based syndromic surveillance for Hajj: a teaching case-study
Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla1,&, Azhar Mujib1, Sami Almudaraa1, Shady Kamal1, Mohammed Al-Thebyani1, Zayid Al Mayahi1, Mohamad Al-Yousef1, Abdullah Turkistani1, Ahmed Elganainy1, Yousef Khader2
1Saudi Field Epidemiology Training Program, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
&Corresponding author
Mohamed Nageeb Abdalla, Saudi Field Epidemiology Training Program, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Hajj, the Muslims ritual pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, is an annual and everlasting mass gathering event of more than two million persons. This ritual which takes 15 - 40 days is performed in a very crowding situation, involving a lot of outdoor movements and under a harsh environment. Public health surveillance, in particular for infectious diseases, is being carried out intensively but using routine methods depending on reported suspected cases from clinics. There is a clear demand for more real-time / near real-time notification of every suspected case. Early detection of priority events and situational awareness can be achieved via Syndromic Surveillance. This case study simulates the steps to be carried in developing a model of Syndromic Surveillance relevant to Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Using the ready collected data from health facilities, Syndromic Surveillance can be generated based on a logical algorithm to produce automated graphical output. The later will be used to monitor the epidemiological situation. This case study is designed for the training of both novice or advanced level field epidemiology trainees and other officials working at National or Regional Surveillance Departments. It can be administered in 3-4 hours. The case study provides the trainees with competencies in designing and developing electronic surveillance models, suitable to use when dealing with mass gatherings.
General instructions: this case study should be used as adjunct training material for novice or advanced level epidemiology trainees to reinforce the concepts taught in prior lectures. The case study is ideally taught by a facilitator in groups of about 15- 20 participants. Participants are to take turns reading the case study, usually a paragraph per student. The facilitator guides the discussion on possible responses to questions. The facilitator may make use of flip charts to illustrate certain points. Additional instructor´s notes for facilitation are coupled with each question in the instructor´s guide to aid facilitation.
Audience: this case study was developed for both novice or advanced level field epidemiology trainees and other officials working at National or Regional Surveillance Departments who are interested in this topic.
Prerequisites: before using this case study, participants should have received basic lectures on public health surveillance and data management in the context of electronic surveillance.
Materials needed: Flash drive, flip charts, markers, computers with MS Excel
Level of training and associated public health activity: Surveillance (electronic surveillance)
Time required: 3 - 4 hours
Language: English
- Download the case study student guide
- Request the case study facilitator guide
The authors declare no competing interests.
We wish to thank the EMPHNET office for initiating and supporting case study writing in the region. Also we wish to acknowledge our partners in IT dep, Makkah Health Directorate and the medical staff of Mina Health center 1 for their cooperation and support.
Annex 1: Hajj priority conditions case definitions
Annex 2: summary of algorithms for targeted Syndrome´s
Annex 3: image of Data Entry e-form
- Kelly J. Henning, What is Syndromic Surveillance? Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Vol. 53, Supplement: Syndromic Surveillance, Reports from a National Conference, 2003 (2004), pp. 7-11. Accessed on 05 March 2019.
- PHC & Preventive Medicine, Guidelines for prevention and control measures during Hajj, Public Health Program for Hajj, Makkah Health Directorate, MOH Saudi Arabia, 1432 H. 2018.
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