@article{ref1,
title="Evaluation of real-time mortality surveillance based on media reports",
journal="Disaster medicine and public health preparedness",
year="2016",
author="Olaniyi, Olaniyi O. and Bayleyegn, Tesfaye M. and Noe, Rebecca S. and Lewis, Lauren S. and Arrisi, Vincent and Wolkin, Amy F.",
volume="11",
number="4",
pages="460-466",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the usefulness and accuracy of media-reported data for active disaster-related mortality surveillance. <br><br>METHODS: From October 29 through November 5, 2012, epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked online media reports for Hurricane Sandy-related deaths by use of a keyword search. To evaluate the media-reported data, vital statistics records of Sandy-related deaths were compared to corresponding media-reported deaths and assessed for percentage match. Sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and timeliness of the media reports for detecting Sandy-related deaths were calculated. <br><br>RESULTS: Ninety-nine media-reported deaths were identified and compared with the 90 vital statistics death records sent to the CDC by New York City (NYC) and the 5 states that agreed to participate in this study. Seventy-five (76%) of the media reports matched with vital statistics records. Only NYC was able to actively track Sandy-related deaths during the event. Moderate sensitivity (83%) and PPV (83%) were calculated for the matching media-reported deaths for NYC. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: During Hurricane Sandy, the media-reported information was moderately sensitive, and percentage match with vital statistics records was also moderate. The results indicate that online media-reported deaths can be useful as a supplemental source of information for situational awareness and immediate public health decision-making during the initial response stage of a disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 7).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1935-7893",
doi="10.1017/dmp.2016.170",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2016.170"
}