IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE SURVEILLANCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES: ASSESSMENT OF THE LEPTOSPIROSIS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IN THE ADJARA REGION (2020-2024).

Leptospirosis is classified as an infection subject to mandatory notification; however, surveillance effectiveness varies across regions in Georgia. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the leptospirosis epidemiological surveillance system in the Adjara region during 2020-2024. A mixed-methods assessment was conducted following the CDC Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems (MMWR, 2001) and national NCDC regulations. Data quality was high within the evaluated subset of cases (86.1%); however, overall system-wide data completeness was low (46.1%), reflecting substantial limitations in routine surveillance data quality. Timeliness significantly declined during 2020-2021 due to COVID-19-related system overload and laboratory delays. Case detection was uneven across municipalities, and field findings revealed gaps in case identification, diagnostic access, and accurate completion of mandatory reporting forms. The Adjara leptospirosis surveillance system demonstrated moderate performance but notable vulnerabilities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.