Integrated Outbreak Analytics

Overview

Integrated Outbreak Analytics (IOA) applies a multidisciplinary approach to understanding outbreak dynamics and to inform outbreak response. It aims to drive comprehensive, accountable, and effective public health and clinical strategies by enabling communities, and national and subnational health authorities to use data for operational decision-making. IOA embraces a holistic perspective of outbreak dynamics throughout: from the trigger questions to the data that are collected or accessed, to the interpretation of results and the recommendations that follow. In addition, IOA promotes co-development and monitoring of evidence informed actions. 

IOA is produced through partnerships and a multi-disciplinary community of practice. It is primarily a field-based initiative that leverages support from national, regional, and international experts to reinforce pre-existing local capacity. In response to the growing demand for IOA technical guidance and support,  a network of agencies and organizations engaged with this approach, formed in 2020 under the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). This IOA Initiative seeks to support health ministries and public health emergency actors to lead accountable and evidence-based outbreak responses through technical expertise (trained local, national, international capacity), guidance (tools, training packages) and knowledge exchange (IOA Network, IOA Field Exchange) as well as identifying IOA subject matter experts. The IOA network mobilizes multiple actors, entities, and organisations.

Key principles guiding IOA

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    Integrated, Holistic
    Information from multiple disciplines is used to understand the factors influencing transmission and control dynamics, as well as the broader impacts of outbreaks.

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    Contextual, Localised
    Outbreaks and their responses impact communities differently: evidence generation is responsive to the culture of each community, contextualizes study outcomes and develops recommendations tailored to their specific needs.

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    Collaborative and Country-ownership
    Equitable partnerships with local actors lie at the heart of IOA. In-country IOA teams should primarily involve national and sub-national experts, supported by GOARN partners and, as necessary, deployed international experts. All recommendations are co-developed with the MoH and partners (NGOs, communities etc.). Publications of IOA work involve national partners.

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    Evidence-informed
    IOA aims to inform strategic decisions and support outbreak responses by using evidence generated with verifiable data and analysed with robust scientific methods.

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    Operational
    IOA aims to produce trustworthy data for rapid operation decisions, however, field realities mean that data will vary in quality and completeness. IOA accounts for these limitations when interpreting findings. Adapted, flexible, pragmatic, and impactful recommendations will be developed with the aim of controlling the outbreak quickly with minimising negative impacts to communities.

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    Data Transparency
    Where country-specific data-protection policies allow, evidence and data are open source and accessible.

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    Partnership Approach
    The IOA cell working in an outbreak response is supported by GOARN (and other) partners regardless of their organisation of origin. All have equal weight in the IOA field team under the country leadership and none should use their organisation’s name to influence or prioritise their organisation’s agenda. Any organisation/agency can join the IOA team regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion/spiritual practice, nationality, sexuality, or political affiliation, provided they abide by the key principles listed here and have the technical IOA expertise required.

Explore IOA

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The map
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IOA Operations

This tracker shows key IOA activities at the local level or globally by IOA Network members.

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Events
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IOA Events

The IOA Network hosts the monthly IOA Network Sessions exploring different themes within outbreak analysis and response and the role IOA plays or could play in strengthening public health emergency responses. In addition IOA presentations, webinars and workshops take place at a range of events

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A group discussion
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IOA Networks

The IOA Network is an association of individuals who have worked in IOA and/or attended trainings on IOA 

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