Epidemiologic surveillance system implemented in the Hautes-Alpes District, France, during the Winter Olympic Games, Torino 2006

Some of the competitions of the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, 10 to 26 February 2006, were organised in France near the city of Briançon, in the department of Hautes-Alpes. An epidemiologic surveillance system was set up by the local health authorities. The goals were to detect in a timely fashion any phenomenon which could justify prevention or sanitary control action, and to guide interventions in the case of outbreak or environmental pollution. Surveillance was implemented from 30 January to15 March 2006 in the Briançon area. Mortality was tracked using by analysing the number and cause of deaths. A sentinel network of general practitioners was set up and reported the frequency of acute gastroenteritis, influenza-like illness and measles. Medical laboratories provided data about the analyses they undertook. Hospital emergency department and emergency ambulance service activities were followed up. Statutory notification diseases and toxic effects of carbon monoxide surveillances were reinforced. Analysed data were transmitted daily to the health authorities. A French/English report was sent weekly to all participants. The participation rate was close to 100%, and data transmission deadlines were respected. No adverse health event was identified. The strong acceptability of this surveillance system comes from its good understanding by the participants. This surveillance, structured around routine and ad-hoc systems, allowed the establishment of the foundations of a network to be used in case of outbreak or environmental pollution.