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OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to evaluate completeness and estimate sensitivity of the measles surveillance using the new electronic version of the national notification system of infectious diseases (ISIN) in order to assess its performance.
METHODS: The completeness of measles reporting in the ISIN for demographic characteristics (week and region of reporting, age and gender), date of onset, complications, hospitalisations, vaccination status, used laboratory methods and country of import from January 2018 to June 2019 was assessed. The register from National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and the ISIN were compared using the capture-recapture method (CRM). Cases were matched using unique personal identifier. The total number of measles cases in the population was assessed using the Chapmans formula. Sensitivity of reporting was calculated by dividing the number of reported cases by the CRM estimated true number of cases.
RESULTS: In the ISIN, 765 measles cases were registered within specified time period. For many variables 100% completeness was found. The data were missing mainly for vaccination status (20%), serology results (55%) and used laboratory methods (8%). The NRL confirmed 653 patient samples in respected period. Within both registries (ISIN and NRL) the total 612 cases were matched. Estimated real number of measles cases using the CRM was 816 (95% CI: 809-823) compared to 806 reported cases. The estimated surveillance system sensitivity was 98.8%. Five percent (n = 41) of cases tested positively in the NRL were not reported to the ISIN.
CONCLUSIONS: We found high level of reported measles data completeness in the ISIN for most variables. Estimated real and reported number of cases was in a good correlation and calculated sensitivity of the ISIN was on very high level. Though, the data sources used in the study were not independent on each other, therefore results may not be fully accurate. The technical changes (more mandatory fields and more logical syntax to check data) in the ISIN to improve data completeness are being recommended. Data providers should report all measles cases to the ISIN with maximum precision in entering individual variables and investigating laboratories should send samples for confirmation to the NRL in required cases.

Since 1951, the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has trained physicians, nurses, scientists, veterinarians, and other allied health professionals in applied epidemiology. To understand the program\'s effect on graduates\' leadership outcomes, we examined the EIS alumni representation in five select leadership positions. These positions were staffed by 353 individuals, of which 185 (52%) were EIS alumni. Among 12 CDC directors, four (33%) were EIS alumni. EIS alumni accounted for 29 (58%) of the 50 CDC center directors, 61 (35%) of the 175 state epidemiologists, 27 (56%) of the 48 Field Epidemiology Training Program resident advisors, and 70 (90%) of the 78 Career Epidemiology Field Officers. Of the 185 EIS alumni in leadership positions, 136 (74%) were physicians, 22 (12%) were scientists, 21 (11%) were veterinarians, 6 (3%) were nurses, and 94 (51%) were assigned to a state or local health department. Among the 61 EIS alumni who served as state epidemiologists, 40 (66%) of them were assigned to a state or local health department during EIS. Our evaluation suggests that epidemiology training programs can serve as a vital resource for the public health workforce, particularly given the capacity strains brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interpreting the results of epidemiologic studies calls for objectivity and rigorous scrutiny, acknowledging the limitations that temper the applicability of the findings to public health action. Current trends have posed new challenges to balancing goals of scientific objectivity and validity with public health applications. The ongoing tension between epidemiology\'s aspirations and capability has several sources: the need to overpromise in research proposals, compromising methodological rigor because of public health importance, defending findings in the face of hostile critics, and appealing to core constituencies who have specific expectations from the research.

Over the past century, the field of epidemiology has evolved and adapted to changing public health needs. Challenges include newly emerging public health concerns across broad and diverse content areas, new methods, and vast data sources. We recognize the need to engage and educate the next generation of epidemiologists and prepare them to tackle these issues of the 21st century. In this commentary, we suggest a skeleton framework upon which departments of epidemiology should build their curriculum. We propose domains that include applied epidemiology, biological and social determinants of health, communication, creativity and ability to collaborate and lead, statistical methods, and study design. We believe all students should gain skills across these domains to tackle the challenges posed to us. The aim is to train smart thinkers, not technicians, to embrace challenges and move the expanding field of epidemiology forward.

Applied epidemiology training occurs throughout an epidemiologist\'s career, beginning with academic instruction before workforce entry, continuing as professional development while working, and culminating with mentoring the next generation. Epidemiologists need ongoing training on advancements in the field and relevant topics (e.g., informatics, laboratory science, emerging topics) to maintain and improve their skills. Even epidemiologists with advanced skills often want training on methodologic innovations or to practice a skill. Effective applied epidemiology training includes blended learning components of instruction that incorporate hands-on experiences such as simulations and experiential learning, allowing for real-time workflows and incorporation of feedback. To prepare epidemiologists for the future, public health training courses in applied epidemiology must consider the evolution in public health toward a focus on including informatics, technologic innovation, molecular epidemiology, multidisciplinary teams, delivery of population health services, and global health security. Supporting efforts by epidemiologists to increase their skills as part of their career paths ensures a strong workforce that able to tackle public health issues. We explore how to meet current training challenges for the epidemiology workforce, especially given limited resources, based on research and our experience in workforce development across federal agencies and state/local health departments, as well as with international governments and organizations.

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