This book examines modern paradigms of disease control based on social network surveillance applications, including electronic sentinel surveillance and wireless application-based surveillance science. It also highlights topics that integrate statistical and epidemiological sciences with surveillance practice and, in order to reflect the evolution of social networking practices, discusses topics concerning the challenges for surveillance theory and practice.
In turn, the book goes a step further by providing insights on how we need to analyse epidemiological trends by following best practices on distinguishing useful information from noise, namely fake news, false reporting of disease incidents and events, etc. At the same time, we need to be able to protect health-focused applications and communication tools via cybersecurity technologies and to ensure that anonymity of reporting and privacy are preserved. In closing, the book discusses the role and impact of social media on disease surveillance, as well as the current role of communities in infectious disease surveillance and control.