The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, is thrilled to announce the pilot relaunch of CoughWatchSA, an essential online respiratory health survey developed by the NICD.

CoughWatchSA is being relaunched by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is relaunching an essential online respiratory health survey to monitor acute respiratory tract illness (ARI).

CoughWatchSA allows residents to participate in the survey and offers eligible participants the opportunity to join a home-based testing study (CoughCheck).

Through this study, participants may receive a laboratory confirmation for flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or Covid-19, from the comfort of their homes. The pilot has been live since August 22.

A notable additional feature is the integration with a home-based testing study. This feature allows residents from specific suburbs in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Western Cape to request a self-swabbing kit for respiratory sample collection if they experience symptoms of respiratory illness.

Detailed instructions will guide participants on how to collect the sample, which will then be sent to the laboratory for testing. The results will be sent via SMS to the participants, facilitating the diagnosis of self-reported suspected cases and enhancing the institute’s ability to directly obtain virologic data from the community.

CoughWatchSA is an online web platform that relies on voluntary user participation. Participants are part of a dedicated group of volunteers who report their symptom information on a weekly basis.

The NICD will collect and analyse the data to monitor trends in respiratory illness.

The NICD says this online survey does not replace existing mobile apps from the National Department of Health but rather serves as an extension to support ongoing efforts for respiratory disease surveillance, going beyond the scope of the pandemic.

The institute says they strictly comply with data regulations to ensure privacy and confidentiality.

“We collect only participants’ email addresses, which are subsequently removed from the analysis data to ensure no identifying information is retained,” says NICD Senior Communications Manager Sinenhlanhla Jimoh

“We strongly encourage public participation to actively support this vital survey by registering on the platform using the link provided and by sharing it with your friends and family. Your participation and outreach can make a significant impact in gathering valuable data and insights to enhance our understanding of respiratory health.”