M&E Indicators
Monitor whether disease surveillance systems detect, report, verify, investigate, and confirm public health events in time for action.
Back to M&E hub ยท Last reviewed: June 3, 2026
| Indicator | Numerator | Denominator | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting completeness | Reports received | Reports expected | Measures participation of reporting units. |
| Reporting timeliness | Reports submitted on time | Reports expected | Measures whether data arrive early enough for response. |
| Alert verification | Alerts verified within target time | Alerts received | Tracks early event management. |
| Specimen adequacy | Adequate specimens collected | Cases requiring specimens | Monitors laboratory confirmation readiness. |
Completeness and timeliness should be reviewed together. A system can receive many reports too late to guide action, or receive timely reports from only a subset of facilities.
Maintain reporting unit lists: Expected reports depend on an accurate facility and community reporting roster.
Document deadlines: Timeliness must use a clear reporting deadline.
Compare trends: Sudden drops may reflect reporting disruptions, system changes, or public holidays rather than true disease changes.