The Public Health Intelligence Handbook
A guide for public health practitioners
Editors: Oliver Morgan, Martyn Kirk, Esther Hamblion, Hsu Li Yang
What is this book about?
This is the first comprehensive book written specifically for public health practitioners on the emerging field of public health intelligence. It offers practical insights and real-world approaches to detecting and assessing health threats faster and more effectively.Public health intelligence blends traditional surveillance with cutting-edge data science to identify signals from a wide range of information sources—from lab data to media reports. Practitioners use these insights to assess risks from infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and other emerging threats, helping to ensure timely and targeted public health responses.Whether you're an experienced professional or new to the field, this book provides the essential tools and knowledge to harness the full potential of public health intelligence in a rapidly changing world.
Who is this book for?
This book is designed for public health professionals who work at the frontlines of epidemic intelligence—those who monitor, detect, and assess health threats as part of their daily practice.It will be especially valuable for practitioners in local, national, regional, and global public health agencies, as well as those in non-governmental organizations, emergency response teams, and academic institutions.Students of public health will also find this an essential reference, offering a practical introduction to the tools, methods, and mindset required for effective public health intelligence.
Section 1: Foundations
Chapter 1: The History of Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 2: Definitions and Key Concepts
Chapter 3: Ethics and Data Privacy for Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 4: Workforce and Training Requirements for Public Health Intelligence
Section 2: Methods
Chapter 5: Data and Information Streams for Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 6: Signal Detection Approaches
Chapter 7: Understanding and Using Contextual Information
Chapter 8: Geographical Information Systems for Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 9: Artificial Intelligence for Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 10: Verification of Signals
Chapter 11: Conducting Risk Assessment
Chapter 12: Information Flow and Decision-Making Structures
Chapter 13: Communicating Public Health Intelligence
Chapter 14: Developing Public Health Intelligence Networks and Communities of Practice
Chapter 15: Using Pathogen Genomics for Public Health Intelligence
Section 3: Applications
Chapter 16: Infectious Diseases
Chapter 17: One Health
Chapter 18: CBRN Events
Chapter 19: Natural Hazard Events
Chapter 20: Public Health Intelligence in Humanitarian Emergencies
Chapter 21: Mass Gathering Events
Chapter 22: Working with Stakeholders and Communities
Chapter 23: Public Health Intelligence and the International Health Regulations