Reading workshop
Read a health bulletin without overinterpretation of the figures
A title announces an increase, a map colores a region, a balance sheet adds up cases. What can we really conclude from this? This grid helps you separate what the publication documents from what remains to be checked.
Open the original newsletter next to this page. Check only the points you checked in the document. A checked box describes your reading; it does not certify the bulletin or a level of risk.
Seven audits to be carried out in the document
Check the items verified in the bulletin. JavaScript displays your progress. Checks are not saved after closing the page; this tool sends no bulletin content.
Three examples: what the figure says
The figures below are fictitious. They are used to learn how to read a comparison and do not describe any real alerts.
1. "Twice more cases": what period?
A bulletin reported 40 cases in two weeks, compared to 20 cases in the previous week. The total has doubled, but the duration has also been observed. The average remains 20 cases per week in this example. This does not show an acceleration.
To be written: "The two balance sheets cover different durations. It takes the weekly numbers to discuss a trend."Even with equal durations, check that the case definition and collection have not changed.
2. More cases, but a larger population
One Zone A has 50 cases among 100,000 inhabitants, one Zone B has 100 of 1,000,000 inhabitants. For the same period and definition, this represents 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in A, compared with 10 in B. The total of B is higher, while the observed rate is lower.
To be written: "The gross number is not enough to compare these territories."These rates do not measure your personal probability of infection: age structure, exposures, testing use and quality of reporting may differ.
3. More positive tests: no more transmission?
A first period has 20 positive results out of 100 tests. The next one has 40 positive results out of 400 tests. The number of positives doubles, while the proportion increases from 20% to 10%. These two indicators tell different things.
To be written: "The volume of tests has increased; the number of positives is not enough to conclude that there is an increase in transmission."The proportion of positive tests also depends on the people tested. It does not automatically correspond to the proportion of infected people in the population.
Moving from title to traceable synthesis
You can prepare a short note by filling in these items, without names or personal medical information:
- Publication: organization, title, original address and date of version consulted.
- Observation: exact indicator, period, territory and population covered.
- Comparison: reference used and possible differences in method.
- Uncertainties: missing, provisional or impossible data to compare.
- Consignee: the text of the competent and public authority to which it refers, or "no instructions identified in this document".
A correct synthesis may conclude that the information is insufficient. This is better than a term such as "explosion" or "low risk" without definition. Keep the original link so that the person reading your note can check the context.
What this workshop does not determine
It does not calculate any reliability scores, does not automatically check a source and does not decide whether a situation is dangerous for you. For an ongoing event, see the most recent publication of the competent authority. In the event of an emergency, use emergency services.
Deepening the reading of health data → · Find official portals →
In practiceObserve and understand
Read a bulletin alongside its methodology
A headline suggests a direction but rarely provides the whole context. Reconstruct the observation period, area covered, denominator and any changes to data collection.
| Item to identify | Hypothetical example | Interpretation to check |
|---|---|---|
| Period | Published on the 15th; observations from the 1st to the 7th. | The publication date is not the period when events occurred. |
| Denominator | 40 positive tests out of 400 tests. | 10% of tests, without inferring the proportion of residents infected. |
| Review | Earlier cases added this week. | An increase in reports can include delayed reporting. |
| Method | A laboratory network expands. | Coverage and comparability of the series may change. |
| Shared message | A screenshot says ‘cases double’ without linking to the bulletin. | Find the original publication, author, date and case definition before sharing. |
Before quoting a change, check the methodological note and bulletin version. An isolated screenshot does not establish the source or limitations. The table’s numbers are hypothetical.
Folder Illustrations
Images generated by artificial intelligence to put the subject in context.
Image generated by artificial intelligence. Fictional AI-generated scene, not medical evidence or a diagnosis.
Further reading
These publications help you verify the concepts discussed. Disease records and directory entries each identify their sources.