Author guidelines

Type of articles

The Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report (WESR) classifies published articles into five main categories.

  1. Original articles
    1. Outbreak investigation
    2. Public health program evaluation and surveillance evaluation
    3. Epidemiological study
    4. Case report
    5. Disease prevention and control-related research study
  2. Weekly summary report of disease outbreaks/health threat verifications
  3. Summary report of epidemiological surveillance activities
  4. Disease/Health Threat Situational Report
  5. Other Article Types: Editorial Note/Note from the field/Health Alert Reports/Guidelines for disease surveillance, investigation and control/Review article

 

WESR is published on a basis comprising 2-3 original articles, weekly summary report of disease outbreak/health threat verifications published 4-5 articles, summary report of epidemiological surveillance activities published 2-3 articles, disease/health threat situational report published 1-2 articles, and other article types are available on a case-by-case basis.

Types of articles published in WESR

1. Original articles

1.1 Epidemiological Investigations:

Reports of outbreak or public health threat investigations, including causative factors, sources, transmission, and patterns of spread.

Structure: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Ethical Considerations, Results, Discussion, Study Limitations, Control and Prevention Measures, Recommendations, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts of Interest, AI Declaration, References.

Length: <14 pages; <4 tables/figures/boxes; >10 references.

1.2 Public Health Program or Surveillance Evaluation: Assessment of public health programs or surveillance systems related to communicable, noncommunicable, and occupational diseases.

Structure: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Ethical Considerations, Results, Discussion, Study Limitations, Recommendations, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts of Interest, AI Declaration, References.

Length: <14 pages; <4 tables/figures/boxes; >10 references.

1.3 Epidemiological Studies:

Analysis of surveillance or statistical data at national or regional levels, describing person, place, and time distribution, with recommendations or policy implications.

Structure: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Ethical Considerations, Results, Discussion, Study Limitations, Recommendations, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts of Interest, AI Declaration, References.

Length: <14 pages; <4 tables/figures/boxes; >10 references.

1.4 Case Reports: Detailed reports of rare or novel cases or syndromes.

Structure: Case background, Patient information, Clinical notes, Case description, Clinical course, Case summary, Discussion/Observations, Informed Consent, References.

Length: <10 pages; <4 tables/figures; >10 references.

1.5 Research Studies in Disease Prevention and Control:

Research addressing questions related to disease prevention, control measures, policy, or law, with ethical considerations.

Structure: Abstract, Introduction, Methods (including materials), Ethical Considerations, Results, Discussion, Study Limitations, Conclusion, Recommendations, Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts of Interest, AI Declaration, References.

Length: <14 pages; <5 tables/figures/boxes; >10 references.

2. Weekly Outbreak Verification Reports

Prepared by the WATCH team, summarizing weekly outbreak events from provincial health offices, regional disease control centers, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and other relevant agencies.

Content: Outbreak investigation details, risk factors, prevention and control measures taken or required, risk assessment, international outbreak reports (optional), supporting tables/figures (optional).

Length: <10 pages.

3. Epidemiological Surveillance Reports

Compiled by the Bureau of Epidemiology, presenting national-level patient and mortality data from notifiable disease surveillance systems.

Content: Case counts and deaths by area, trends, reporting coverage, and summary tables.

4. Disease/Health Threat Situation Reports

Prepared by staff of the Bureau of Epidemiology or Department of Disease Control, summarizing national or international disease situations.

Structure: Title, Executive Summary (bullet points), Introduction (context and background), Epidemiological features, Laboratory surveillance data, Risk assessment, Coordination with agencies, Central/local control measures, References.

Length: 3–6 pages.

5. Other Article Types

These categories include Editorial Note / Note from the field / Health Alert Reports / Guidelines for disease surveillance, investigation and control / Review article.

Authorship

  • Editorial Note: Prepared by the Executive Editorial Board and the Academic Editorial Board.
  • Note from the field / Health Alert Reports / Guidelines for disease surveillance, investigation and control / Review article: Prepared by personnel from the Division of Epidemiology or Department of Disease Control (DDC).

 

5.1 Notes from the Field

Brief reports on urgent or emerging events of public health importance.

Structure: Title, Executive Summary (bullet points), Background, Investigation and findings, Preliminary conclusions and control measures, Acknowledgements, References.

Length: 1–3 pages; <1 table/figure; >5 references.

 

5.2 Health Alert Reports

Reports providing timely information on health events to reduce public panic and limit disease spread.

Structure: Title, Executive Summary (bullet points), Background, Emerging trends (domestic and international), Relevant surveillance data, Public risk communication, Next steps, References.

Length: <4 pages.

 

5.3 Guidelines for disease surveillance, investigation and control

Technical articles describing surveillance mechanisms, case definitions, reporting procedures, outbreak investigation methods, specimen collection and submission, and related laboratory procedures.

Structure: Title, Background, Surveillance definitions, Case classifications, Reporting methods, Investigation protocols, Specimen handling, Diagnostic cost considerations, Appendices, References.

 

5.4 Review Articles Scholarly reviews summarizing existing knowledge from journals and books, domestic and international.

Structure: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Literature review, Commentary, Conclusion, References.

Length: <8 pages; <4 tables/figures/boxes; >10 references.