A multi-function public health surveillance system and the lessons learned in its development: the Alberta Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Net.

Objective: We describe a centralized automated multi-function detection and reporting system for public health surveillance--the Alberta Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Net (ARTSSN). This improves upon traditional paper-based systems which are often fragmented, limited by incomplete data collection and inadequate analytical capacity, and incapable of providing timely information for public health action.

Methods: ARTSSN concurrently analyzes multiple electronic data sources in real time to describe results in tables, charts and maps.

Transmission of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 within households: Edmonton, Canada.

Background: In April 2009, a novel influenza A, subtype H1N1, now referred to as the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus (pH1N1), began circulating in countries around the world. Describing the transmission characteristics of this novel influenza A virus is important to predict current, and future, disease spread. The Public Health response to the first wave of pH1N1 in Alberta focused on the identification and management of secondary cases within households.

Levamisole tainted cocaine causing severe neutropenia in Alberta and British Columbia.

Background: Five cases of severe neutropenia (neutrophil counts < 0.5 per 109 cells/L) associated with exposure to cocaine and levamisole, an antihelimithic agent no longer available in Canada, were identified in Alberta in 2008. Alberta and British Columbia (BC) public health officials issued an advisory and urged health care professionals to report cases to public health.

Relationships between gas exchange and carbon isotope discrimination of Sitka x interior spruce introgressive genotypes and ribosomal DNA markers.

Effects of hybridization on physiological performance were investigated in seven natural introgressive populations and one F(1) population of Sitka (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) x interior spruce (P.