Background: A syndromic surveillance system using non-classical data sources for detection and
monitoring evolution of influenza and influenza like illness (ILI) in Djibouti is reported here as part of the
preliminary report of Djibouti WHO-Copanflu International Study (WCIS).
Methodology: Secondary ILI data of between September 2007 and September 2010 on clinical reports, overthe-counter
drug sales, laboratory diagnosis reports and health promotion programs were obtained from
Department Epidemiology and Health Information Djibouti, for an integrated statistical analysis.
Results: Results were indicative of a concomitant direct positive relationship between the first three
variables and weather pattern; there was a progressive increase in cases towards winter months.
Conclusion: Our results showed that the current surveillance system was capable of detecting ILI trend,
but more innovations in prompt reporting and instituting open source syndromic surveillance system
software’s, were needed to enhance its usefulness in monitoring pandemic evolution. Therefore, a
successful implementation of WCIS in part, creates a platform, upon which some of the challenges could
be addressed, so as to have a near-real time surveillance protocol.