SV surveillance

[liriodendron]

Hi there, site admins. Thanks for keeping up this site for us all.



A while back, I Was wanting to do a website for the surveillance of
gastrointestinal illnesses that were similar to fluwatch.com but instead relies on updates from members of IES.



I think it would be useful to know where people are reporting SV
activity just based on what they see or hear. Nothing scientific or
based on stool specimen tests or anything like that.



Members could see what activity is like in their area or an area that they
might be traveling to or moving to etc. I realize this might make some
people worry more but it may provide some interesting data that not
even the CDC or WHO has managed to compile yet. If you have visited
fluwatch.com over a period of several years, you see that flu hits
harder in some areas that others. (Like TX & Louisiana) Since there are so many users here
that could potentially contribute information, we could find out if the
same thing happens with SV. We could also focus in on what times of the year SV are present.



Like I said, I was going to do this site long before I knew this site
existed or there was anyone who felt the same way as I do. The reason I
didn't go through with it was because I had no practical way to get the
data or updates. Or so I thought.



Do you think
it's something that can be somehow added to this site or to the forum?
I could help with putting it together if you're interested in doing it.






Edited by: liriodendron

[kel12347]

I think that's a good idea, but I also think it should definitely be hidden behind a link so that members can choose to click on it or not. It may cause increased anxiety to many members of the forum, but it may also provide some useful information.

[shiva]

Although it sounds like a good idea, not having the science to back it up might be a bad idea. For instance, many times when people are sick they blame a sv when it is infact a food issue. This might end up perpetuating unnecessary panic within people who live in that region who also want to be informed. I would love having access to that kind of information, but I am not too sure it would end up being beneficial for most of us, you know?

[liriodendron]

That's true and that's why the other health organizations haven't been
able to do this yet apparently, because so many cases go unreported.
(People don't see their doctor). But even though there may be a large
margin of error, it's still going to give people insight as to where
there is gastrointestinal illness, be it a virus or food poisoning.



It may give some people anxiety but it may also calm a lot of people down if they are not in a hard-hit area.