Question

Provide an example of when epidemiologists used active surveillance to investigate the HIV epidemic.

Answer 1

In 2004, the Government of Zimbabwe provided free retro viral therapy after active surveillance of HIV infected population. The groups who acted as epidemiologists included Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs), University students, health information officers. They were watchdogs of people with HIV symptoms such as fever, sore throat and fatigue. They collected the information of those people and provided them free HIV tests. Then RVT was given to the HIV positive population. This allowed college students to practice real life epidemiological skills and taught active surviellance of the diseased.