Project description

The main objectives of the project are

• Capacity development for public health staff at national, regional and local level and within AGES
• Establishment and expansion of integrated surveillance, i.e. the linking of various data sources and surveillance systems, in particular for respiratory infections and vector-borne infectious diseases
• Digitalisation within AGES and the interfaces to European agencies and other partners
• Design of a platform for networking databases for human and animal health in order to be able to answer One Health questions and carry out analyses

RAISE efficiently collates and interprets data. A better overall picture of the occurrence of vectors (mosquito and tick monitoring) or respiratory diseases, for example, supports measures for better control and prevention of infectious diseases. Integrated surveillance allows health threats to be recognised earlier and appropriate responses to be made.

Data availability and quality are among the most important pillars of a good surveillance system. This requires standardised, good training for all those involved in the area of public health. A targeted training programme will enable all stakeholders to collect, document and transmit data in a quality-assured and standardised manner. Digitalisation plays a central role here. In all work packages, it is necessary to further develop IT systems, user interfaces, epidemiological parameters, etc. and to consider the use of artificial intelligence.

Benefits of the project

All RAISE activities will make a long-term and sustainable contribution to expanding, improving and digitalising the Austrian surveillance system for zoonoses and other infectious diseases under the One Health premise so that Austria is better prepared for future outbreaks and pandemics.