The evolution of EBS in Oman: From planning stages to practical application

Background Event-based surveillance (EBS) is a complementary method to traditional indicator-based surveillance (IBS) as it provides early warnings of emerging health threats. This paper explores Oman’s experience in planning and implementing an EBS system alongside its existing IBS framework. By incorporating One Health signals and addressing gaps noted during recent outbreaks, Oman’s EBS initiative aims to strengthen national capacity for timelier, multisectoral, and proactive public health responses. Methods The EBS system was designed in response to a national needs assessment and extensive stakeholder consultations. A multisectoral technical working group (TWG) designed and integrated an EBS reporting module on the Oman’s electronic disease reporting system, Tarassud, and developed corresponding training materials. The system was piloted over a six month period in two governorates in 2024, followed by a structured evaluation of its performance. Results In the year 2024, the pilot EBS system logged 35 signals, of which 18 were verified as significant public health events. The platform successfully captured alerts from human, animal, and environmental sources, enabling earlier detection of notifiable diseases such as Legionella and rabies. Key challenges were identified, including difficulties in integrating EBS data with the existing IBS, maintaining stakeholder engagement, and low levels of community reporting. Conclusion Oman’s EBS system demonstrated feasibility and added value by leveraging multiple sources of alerts and fostering intersectoral collaboration. Scaling up this approach will require enhanced integration with existing surveillance systems, sustained multi-sector participation, and greater investment in digital tools and training.