Real-Time Big Data Notification System Enables Accurate Flu Forecasts

In the Pudong New Area, a real-time big data-based acute respiratory disease notification system was trialed, allowing earlier medical resource preparation, high-risk patient management, and forecast of the disease’s potential prevalence in the future.

This Pacific Prime article will discuss the real-time big data notification system that allows accurate flu forecasts for efficient preparation and treatment.

Overview: Flu Forecasts with the Big Time Data

A real-time big data-based acute respiratory disease notification system was tested in the Pudong New Area. This allowed earlier preparation of medical resources, high-risk patient management, and forecast of the disease’s potential emergence in the future.

With the data and analysis courtesy of this real-time disease notification system, hospitals can then properly prepare medication and beds as well as informing regional health authorities when it comes to potential patients.

Forecasting infectious disease trends depends on high-quality data collection from different hospitals and their unique departments as patients with different symptoms may visit different hospitals and specific departments.

According to hospital officials, beyond acute infectious diseases, the notification system can also be used for chronic disease screenings, monitoring, and management.

Hospital Comments and Responses

Typically, the disease data are all isolated, which makes it difficult to keep tabs on a virus’ development and forecasting its prevalence.

According to Xu Zhaohui, vice president of the system developer, Shanghai East Hospital, “This system combines all data into a pool and carries out accurate data searching, grabbing, and analysis based on keywords and generates it into visible content.”

Dr. Li Qiang, director of Shanghai East Hospital’s respiratory disease department, went on to say, “Previously, it is the hospital reporting to the authority regularly on the data of infectious disease cases. The data are all lagging indicators. This new system can collect all information and do real-time analysis and evaluation.”

Dr. Li went on to say, “So far, it has data from our hospital and Beicai Neighborhood Health Center, a member of our health cluster, as a trial”, while also adding that “The figure on flu-A cases was some 4,500 in October, over 5,100 in November, and over 9,000 in December. The quantity in the first week in January was over 4,300, so we forecast flu cases will surpass 20,000 this month.”

According to Dr. Li, regarding the hospital’s response following the system’s notification of flu cases, he stated the following:

“The system gave an alert in late December, as flu cases rose sharply. We then started to do relevant preparation like arranging more doctors at respiratory disease outpatients, asking pharmacies to prepare more medicines and reporting to the district health authority on the possible rise of flu prevalence. 

We also contacted neighborhood health centers in our clusters to pay more attention to the elderly and people with chronic diseases and encourage them to receive flu shots in time.”

Li also stated, “Though we are receiving more patients now, we are in a proper process.”

General Flu Prevention Tips

In the meantime, with the flu forecast notification system hard at work, flu prevention is something everyone can do with proper hygiene, getting the right immunization through vaccines, and more. Combined, these methods will help prevent catching the flu and reduce the spread of pathogens.

Below are general flu prevention tips for both locals and expats:

• Regularly Wash Your Hands: Since viruses can spread through indirect contact, such as someone sneezing or coughing in their hand and touching an object and leaving behind the viruses for the next person to be infected, regularly washing your hands helps get rid of germs from your hands. You can also use hand sanitizers or wet wipes.

• Cough or Sneeze in Your Elbow Instead of Your Hand: And while we’re on the subject of sneezing or coughing in the hand, if you don’t have tissues, refrain from this practice in favor of doing so into your elbow to not spread germs to your hands.

• Disinfect Objects and Surfaces: Viruses can survive on certain objects and surfaces for up to 48 hours. You can use disinfectants such as 70% alcohol to disinfect tables, doorknobs, or light switches.

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps strengthen your immune system and prevent you from catching the flu. For the infected, water also helps rehydrate you and flush out the toxins in your body.

• Get Vaccinated: Getting the right immunization through vaccines will help prevent you from catching the illnesses and, even if you do get infected, the vaccine will reduce the severity of the symptoms and lessen the duration of your sickness.

If you do catch the flu, seek medical attention immediately and take antiviral medications as prescribed by your doctor to shorten the duration and reduce the severity of your flu symptoms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the real-time big data notification system for flu forecasting, will allow hospitals to efficiently prepare medication and drugs as well as patient management.

What’s more, the real-time big data notification system for flu forecasting goes beyond helping hospitals prepare resources such as beds and medication for patients as it can also be used for chronic disease screenings, monitoring, and management.

About Pacific Prime

Pacific Prime offers numerous health insurance plans to choose from, such as travel insurance, individual health insurance, family health insurance. Our insurance solutions also offer hospitalization and flu vaccination coverage for maximum peace of mind in case of illnesses.

We are more than happy to help you find a suitable health insurance plan that matches your specific needs and your budget. If you would like to secure insurance plans or if you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us and get a free quote today.

Disclaimer: Pacific Prime solely represents, operates, and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products or otherwise stated written or verbally, are for introduction purposes about our overseas network only as each entity is fully independent.