Overview of the programme
CoughWatchSA is a programme digital participatory surveillance platform launched by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) as of 9 March 2022. This year we have launched a brand new website, as a second pilot — leading towards the establishment of the official digital participatory surveillance programme that will integrate with existing sentinel surveillance for respiratory illness in 2024. This platform is open to all South African residents who are 18 years and older. Parents may enrol their children if they choose to. Participants in this programme are requested to report data on symptoms related to influenza-like illness and COVID-19. In addition to this, demographic data, lifestyle factors, underlying medical conditions and vaccination status for seasonal influenza and COVID-19 are captured. Participants who reside in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town are eligible to enrol in the CoughCheck study, where they can request for a home-based test for influenza, RSV and COVID-19
Benefits of participating
In South Africa, 75% of symptomatic influenza-like illnesses are non-medically attended. Access to primary health care facilities are not equally distributed nor accessible in all parts of the country. Testing capacity is limited as is in many Lower-Middle-Income-Countries (LMICs). All of these may potentially lead to a gross underestimation of the community burden of respiratory illness. CoughWatchSA allows us to collect systematic data on non-medically attended cases of influenza-like illness. This includes vaccination coverage for seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
Call-to-action to join the programme
CoughWatchSA is open to all South African residents in all provinces. The platform is zero-rated which means participants will not incur any mobile data expenses. Parents or legal guardians may enrol their children and report on their behalf. The long-term aim of this programme is an early warning system for outbreaks of influenza-like like illness, to determine the early onset of the influenza season and assist the public health community to respond earlier with interventions and mitigation strategies for outbreaks. Join us and report on a weekly basis to improve surveillance efforts for respiratory illness in South Africa.
