Identification and tracking of heat-related ilnesses using syndromic surveillance

The summer of 2010 in Maryland was characterized by unusually high temperatures. This type of increased and prolonged heat can potentially make residents ill, and extreme exposure can be fatal to people at highest risk. Numerous deaths throughout the state were attributed to this heat wave. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) addressed this public health issue by using public messaging and maintaining constant situational awareness through electronic syndromic surveillance. Thus, the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE) was utilized to monitor heat-related illnesses throughout the state. Therefore, ED visits from all acute care hospitals in the state of Maryland (n=45) were reviewed closely on a daily basis throughout the summer months (May 1 through August 8, 2010). Daily reports were provided to public health officials to enhance situational awareness and inform decision-making. The counts of ED visits for heat-related illnesses were also compared to the daily air temperature data to assess the relationship between air temperature and the number of ED visits for heat-related illnesses. The data indicated that there was a positive correlation between air temperature and the number of ED visits for heat-related illnesses. These results demonstrate yet another useful way in which electronic surveillance, and specifically ESSENCE, can be used to help protect the public's health. DHMH will continue to monitor this data in future years to maintain situational awareness of heat related illness activity in Maryland.