Participatory, Virologic, and Wastewater Surveillance Data to Assess Underestimation of COVID-19 Incidence, Germany, 2020-2024.

Using participatory, virologic, and wastewater surveillance systems, we estimated when and to what extent reported data of adult COVID-19 cases underestimated COVID-19 incidence in Germany. We also examined how case underestimation evolved over time. Our findings highlight how community-based surveillance systems can complement official notification systems for respiratory disease dynamics.

[Monitoring of COVID-19 by extending existing surveillance for acute respiratory infections].

As part of the national influenza pandemic preparedness, surveillance systems have been established in Germany in addition to the mandatory notifications according to the Protection Against Infection Act. The aim of these systems is the description, analysis, and evaluation of the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), the identification of the circulating viruses, and the trend. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the systems have been expanded to enable monitoring of infections with SARS-CoV‑2.

Feasibility study for the use of self-collected nasal swabs to identify pathogens among participants of a population-based surveillance system for acute respiratory infections (GrippeWeb-Plus)-Germany, 2016.

Background: Internet-based participatory surveillance systems, such as the German GrippeWeb, monitor the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses on population level. In order to interpret syndromic information better, we devised a microbiological feasibility study (GrippeWeb-Plus) to test whether self-collection of anterior nasal swabs is operationally possible, acceptable for participants and can yield valid data.

Methods: We recruited 103 GrippeWeb participants (73 adults and 30 children) and provided them with a kit, instructions and a questionnaire for each sample.

[Evaluation of an ICD-10-based electronic surveillance of acute respiratory infections (SEED) in Germany].

Background: Every year epidemic waves of influenza and other acute respiratory infections (ARIs) cause a highly variable burden of disease in the population. Thus, assessment of the situation and adaptation of prevention strategies have to rely on real time syndromic surveillance.

Objective: We have established an ICD-10-based electronic system allowing rapid capture and transmission of information on ARI (SEED), in Germany.