What is EcSS2.0?

截至2021年末,2019冠狀病毒病的大流行已於全球感染超過三億人,它的傳播亦於香港造成多次大規模爆發。有見及此,香港中文大學社區防疫研究站「EcSS2.0」 於 2022 年正式推出,旨在為香港市民接觸新型冠狀病毒及其他呼吸道病原體的風險作出有系統的評估。

於整個研究期間,來自不同住戶的參加者會被邀請每月填答一份更新問卷,內容與過去一個月接觸新型冠狀病毒的情況及他們在不同環境下活動的模式有關。數據經研究團隊進行分析後,結果將有助了解大眾於不同環境和時間接觸新型冠狀病毒的風險。此外,研究大眾的社區活動模式亦能協助識別容易引致呼吸道疾病爆發的高風險環境。

在全球的公共衛生系統當中,以社區作為基礎的監測平台發揮著愈趨重要的作用。與此同時,越來越多城市及國家亦開始實行類似「EcSS2.0」的監測平台,藉此及早偵察傳染病爆發以及長期監測公共衛生威脅等。類似的監測平台曾被應用於2014 年西非的伊波拉疫症爆發期間,民眾被邀請一同協助識別及匯報與伊波拉病毒傳播相關的事件,此舉為控制當地疫情作出了重大的貢獻。透過「EcSS2.0」,希望這項研究能夠加強大眾對新型冠狀病毒的流行病學知識,並透過他們的參與協助有效抗疫策略的發展。

What is EcSS2.0?

Towards the end of 2021, the pandemic of COVID-19 had caused over 300 million infections globally, while its spread had engendered multiple epidemic waves in Hong Kong. In order to systematically assess the population risk of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens in Hong Kong, EcSS2.0 as an online community-based surveillance platform was officially launched in 2022.

Throughout the study period, participants from random households are invited to answer a monthly web-based survey on their exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and activity pattern in different settings during the past 1 month. Following data analysis, the findings could help keep track of the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 in different settings and time periods in Hong Kong. The study of population activity pattern in the community could also facilitate the identification of high-risk settings prone to the occurrence of respiratory outbreaks.

Community-based surveillance has played an increasingly important role in public health systems worldwide. At the same time, surveillance platforms resembling EcSS2.0 have been in operation in more cities and countries to serve a variety of purposes, ranging from early detection of infectious disease outbreaks to long-term monitoring of public health threats. An application was noted during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, when community members were invited to help identify and report events suggestive of Ebola transmission. The collective efforts from society had greatly contributed to the successful control of outbreaks. Through EcSS2.0, it is hoped that this study could help strengthen the knowledgebase of SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in the community, and through participation, contribute to the development of effective anti-epidemic strategy.

Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Office hours: 9:00am - 1:00pm / 2:00pm – 5:30pm (Closed on Saturday and public holiday)
Phone: 2252-8862
E-mail: info@ecss2.net
WhatsApp/Signal: 9244-8827