Disease Surveillance Unit, Malta
Contact person
Dr. Malcolm MicallefDepartment of Public Health
37-39 Rue D'Argens
Msida, Malta
Tel +356 2132 4085
Fax +356 2131 9243
Description of the institute
The Disease Surveillance Unit within the Department of Public Health is the national surveillance center for communicable diseases in Malta. The main aim of the unit is to: "To study episodes and trends of disease with a view to prevention and control." The main objectives of the Disease Surveillance Unit are:- To undertake surveillance of communicable diseases in Malta.
- To improve reporting of notifiable diseases by creating methods that would encourage early notification.
- To disseminate relevant, accurate and timely information.
- To undertake responsibility for the control of infection through timely investigation and management of incidents of communicable diseases.
- To undertake epidemiological research.
- To provide advice on communicable diseases to health professionals and the general public.
- To contribute to training in communicable disease control.
Surveillance of Communicable diseases.
This includes the collection of data on statuatory notifiable communicable diseases by routine reporting from general practitioners, hospitals and medical diagnostic laboratories. Data is also collected from active surveillance of hospitals and laboratories. Enhanced surveillance programmes exist for influenza, vaccine preventable diseases, sydromic sexually transmitted infections and infectious intestinal illness using sentinel practice. Reports of deaths directly attributed to notifiable infectious diseases are provided by the Department of Health Information, which processes all death certificates. This constitutes another source of notifications. For urgent notifications; a 24-hour on-call service operates via St. Luke's Hospital switchboard. Data is analysed and their interpretation is disseminated to those who require it for preventive action. The unit issues weekly, monthly and annual reports.
Investigation and control of communicable disease.
Medical officers of the Disease Surveillance Unit investigate all reported cases. Any necessary environmental action is co-ordinated through health inspectors within the Health Inspectorate. The Chest Unit, within the Department of Public Health is responsible for data collection in cases of tuberculosis. It also carries out public health preventive measures related to tuberculosis including screening. Outbreak control teams are set up to investigate and follow up outbreaks for timely control measures to be taken.
Epidemiological Research.
Research is carried out in communicable diseases. It includes analytical studies such as cohort and case-control studies and descriptive studies such as cross sectional studies.
Teaching and training in communicable disease epidemiology.
Three of the Center's staff has been trained in Masters degree in Public Health Medicine and one is currently reading for a PhD in communicable disease epidemiology. Staff of the unit teaches in modules of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the University of Malta.
Maintenance of Website.
The Disease Surveillance Unit has set up a web site which contains information on communicable diseases including statistics, reports, leaflets and general information.. This web site is available at http://www.health.gov.mt/dsu
Training Opportunities
- Surveillance - There are opportunities for evaluation of existing surveillance systems and how to improve them
- Outbreak investigations - Participation in outbreak investigation including epidemiological investigation.
- Research project - There will be opportunities
in collaboration research projects including case control
studies ect.
Training Supervision
A suitable trainer for the EPIET fellow will be identified for the period of his/her training. For specific tasks and assignments, the fellow will be supervised by the appropriate consultant for the particular project.Language requirements
English Language will be required.Training History
Number of EPIET fellows trained at institute: NoneAvailable as a training site for cohort 12: No