outline
that Epidemiology and Disease Control Department (EDCD) Announced updated National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) 2025. This process integrates important lessons learned from recent global and national health emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, and aligns Nepal’s disease surveillance framework with the core competencies required by the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005).
Previous version: Early Warning and Reporting System (EWARS) Guide 2019
that EWARS SOP 2025 Provides comprehensive and practical operational guidance for Nepal’s disease surveillance system. It clearly outlines mechanisms for early warning, alert generation and verification, and coordinated response, ensuring alignment with national health priorities and internationally recognized standards. The revised SOPs strengthen the link between surveillance and response to support rapid, evidence-based public health action.
Related: Community-Based Disease Surveillance Guidelines, 2082
This version introduces standardized case definitions, clarifies agency roles and responsibilities, and integrates digital innovations to improve data quality, timeliness, and system interoperability. SOPs serve as a policy reference and operating manual for sentinel hospitals, laboratories, and health authorities involved in disease surveillance and outbreak response at all levels of the healthcare system.
Basis for revision
purpose
This SOP serves as an operational document for healthcare professionals and sentinel hospitals participating in EWARS in Nepal. The goals are:
- It provides a standardized framework for effective implementation and operation of EWARS in Nepal.
- Strengthen timely detection, early warning generation, reporting and response to communicable and notifiable diseases.
- Update procedures, roles and responsibilities in line with current national priorities and international best practices.
- Integrate modern digital platforms (e.g. LIS, HMIS, SORMAS, EMR) to improve data flow, interoperability, and real-time reporting.
Priority diseases/syndrome/events to be reported to EWARS
- but 52 types of legal infectious diseases It has been designated as a subject of national surveillance. Only 18 selected priority diseases, 8 syndromes and public health events listed in Appendices III, IV and V are reported through the EWARS system.
- The list of reportable conditions may be periodically reviewed and updated by DoHS based on public health significance and evolving disease trends.
