Disease Surveillance Signal Agent

Surveillance data arrives every day from labs, clinics and hospitals, and staff must decide quickly whether a rise is real. This agent runs detection methods on case counts by disease, area and age group and compares them with expected counts for the season. Before calling a signal, it checks reporting delays and data quality, because a batch of late reports can look like an outbreak. If the rise traces back to a reporting change, it marks it that way and keeps watching. For signals that hold up, it summarizes the case details, such as onset dates, places and common exposures, and suggests next steps. It never starts an investigation or a public message itself. You decide on investigation and communications. Edge case: a jump caused by a new lab starting to report is flagged as a reporting change.