Monitoring of communicable diseases and pathogens

The Department of Communicable Diseases is responsible for the project Improving and Strengthening National Surveillance Systems in Iceland (Iceland-ISNSS). The project is funded by the EU4Health programme and is part of a joint initiative within the EU/EEA area. The aim is to enhance the digital infrastructure for monitoring communicable diseases and pathogens in Iceland, that are under surveillance by the Chief Epidemiologist in accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act.

The project builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to strengthen preparedness, enhance coordination, and increase the efficiency of data flows within the country. Improvements to these systems will also support more effective information sharing with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Key improvements include:

• Enhance the Communicable Diseases Register: Upgrade the database for efficient data collection and processing.

• Develop a Screening Registration System: Create a system to enhance monitoring of various pathogens, especially respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.

• Improve Database Interconnectivity: Establish links between databases to facilitate comprehensive surveillance, including for severe infections.

• Streamline Clinical Data Submission: Implement a system within the electronic health record that allows doctors to efficiently submit clinical data for notifiable diseases.

• Build a Contact Tracing Database: Create a robust system for contact tracing.

• Enhance Data Visualization: Develop a digital interface for near real-time display of surveillance data.

The project began in January 2025 and will run for four years.