About the journal
Outbreak, Surveillance, Investigation & Response (OSIR) Journal, formerly known as Outbreak, Surveillance & Investigation Reports (OSIR) e-Journal, is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to disseminating research in epidemiology, public health, and health sciences. The journal publishes original works in English that have not been previously published or submitted elsewhere. Committed to accessibility, the journal follows a no-fee policy, ensuring that authors are not charged for publication.
ISSN (online): 2651-1061
Aims and Scope
OSIR Journal offers a free-of-charge platform for disseminating useful findings and knowledge from studies in epidemiology, public health and health sciences. Our content focuses on various aspects of research and practices of the aforementioned disciplines, including, but not limited to:
- Outbreak investigation: Detection and verification of public health events, field epidemiologic investigations, case finding and contact tracing, source identification, transmission assessment, and implementation of outbreak control measures.
- Health data analysis: Analysis of surveillance, survey, clinical, laboratory, or administrative data, estimation of disease burden, trend and situational analysis, identification of risk factors, and development or validation of predictive models.
- Public health research: Development and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention strategies, behavioural or community-based interventions, implementation and operational research, and studies of population health determinants and outcomes.
- Development, evaluation, and implementation of health surveillance systems: Design and integration of surveillance systems, digital reporting platforms, data workflows and management infrastructure, early warning tools, and assessment or improvement of system performance.
- Public health response, policy and health system: Emergency preparedness and response, public health program implementation, health policy analysis, governance and coordination mechanisms, service delivery, and health system strengthening.
Types of Published Articles
OSIR Journal publishes four types of articles, including editorials, original articles, review articles, and policy and practice reviews.
- Editorials: Editorials are authored exclusively by the editor(s) of the OSIR Journal or a distinguished researcher to present the significance of a research topic while placing it within a broader scientific framework. They may also highlight relevant and interesting issues in the field of epidemiology, public health, and health sciences. The length of an Editorial should not exceed 1,500 words.
- Original articles: Original articles present original findings based on investigations or study conducted by the authors. These articles address a specific research question or hypothesis. An original article should include sections: introduction, methods, results, discussion, limitations, recommendations, conclusion, acknowledgement, author contribution, ethical approval, informed consent, data availability, conflicts of interest, funding support, and declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process. The manuscript should not exceed 3,000 words.
- Review articles: Review articles provide an overview of a specific topic by synthesizing evidence from published studies, guidelines, and policy documents. These articles explain key concepts, critically evaluate the current state of knowledge, and identify gaps in literature. They may also provide methodological or practical insights that help researchers and public health professionals improve study design, analysis, interpretation, or implementation of findings. The manuscript should not exceed 4,000 words.
- Policy and practice reviews: Policy and practice reviews provide a comprehensive examination of policies, regulations, guidelines, implementation and practices relevant to public health, healthcare systems, and disease prevention strategies. This article type serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers by offering evidence-based insights into the implementation, challenges, and outcomes of health-related policies and interventions. Policy and practice reviews have a maximum word count of 4,000.
Note: Articles may also be published as invited articles. Invited articles are submitted at the request of the editorial team and may fall under any of the article categories listed above, except for editorials, which are written exclusively by the journal editors or invited experts. Invited articles undergo editorial review and may be subject to full peer review at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief and/or Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
Publication Frequency
OSIR Journal publishes four issues per year, with each issue containing five to eight articles, totaling approximately 25 peer-reviewed articles annually. Editorials and invited articles are not included in this count. The issues are released according to the following schedule:
- January – March
- April – June
- July – September
- October – December
Publication Charges
OSIR Journal is an open-access journal supported by the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The journal welcomes submissions from researchers, public health professionals, and practitioners whose work meets the journal’s editorial standards and scope. There are no submission fees, page charges, or article processing charges for manuscripts submitted to the journal. All costs associated with the editorial process, publication management, and online dissemination are covered by the Division of Epidemiology.
Language
All manuscripts submitted to OSIR Journal must be written in clear and readable English. Authors are encouraged to use concise and grammatically correct language to ensure clarity and effective communication of their works.
Editorial Policy
Manuscripts submitted to OSIR Journal are assessed by reviewers to determine their suitability for publication. Submissions should present original work with appropriate methods, clear reporting of results, and discussion relevant to epidemiology, public health, or health sciences.
The journal is published online, and all articles are available through the journal’s website.
The Editors reserve the right to request revisions to a manuscript at any stage of the review process prior to publication. The views and content presented on the website or in published articles are those of the authors and do not reflect the positions of the publisher or the Editorial Board.
Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to OSIR Journal undergo a double-blind peer review process and are evaluated by at least three experts. Prior to external review, the editorial team conducts an initial screening to assess whether the submission meets the journal’s scope, ethical standards, and basic scientific requirements. If an Editor has a competing interest with a submission, another member of the editorial team will oversee the review process.
Editorials and invited articles are commissioned by the Editorial Board and are reviewed internally by the Editor and/or the editorial team rather than undergoing external double-blind peer review.
Submissions identified as having a level of textual similarity above 20% (excluding references) may be rejected without review. Authors may be asked to provide copies of related or previously published work to support the assessment of originality.
For further information, please refer to the journal’s Peer Review Process.
Open Access Policy
OSIR Journal operates under an open-access policy. Published articles are accessible to readers without subscription or charge.
Ownership and Management
OSIR Journal is administered and supported by the Division of Epidemiology under the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The journal serves as a platform for academics, researchers, and practitioners to share and access credible knowledge for the advancement of public health.
For more information about the Division of Epidemiology, please visit: https://ddc.moph.go.th/index.php.
Publisher
OSIR Journal is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The journal is based at Tiwanond Road, Talad Kwan Subdistrict, Muang District, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
Copyright and Licensing
All articles published in OSIR Journal are fully open-access and available free of charge under the a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license permits users to read, download, copy, and share the published work for non-commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given to the authors and OSIR Journal. The license does not allow modification, adaptation, translation, or the creation of derivative works. Commercial use of the published material is also prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained.
Upon publication, copyright of the article, including its text, figures, tables, and supplementary materials, is held by the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
Authors retain the right to share their published article through non-commercial open-access platforms and to include the work in academic theses or dissertations, provided that the original publication in OSIR Journal is properly cited. Authors may also reuse portions of their article in future scholarly works with appropriate citation.
If an author wishes to republish the article, in whole or in part, in a commercial publication — including books, edited volumes, collected works, or materials intended for sale — prior written permission must be obtained from the Division of Epidemiology. Such requests must clearly specify the content to be reused and the intended purpose of the new publication. Approval is granted at the discretion of the Division of Epidemiology.
Reprint and Attribution Policy
All articles published in OSIR Journal are open access and licensed as described in the journal’s Copyright and Licensing policy.
Users may download and share the material for non-commercial purposes, without modification, and with proper attribution to the authors and OSIR Journal. Any commercial use, adaptation, translation, modification, or republication requires prior written permission from the Division of Epidemiology.
Proper Attribution:
All reprinted, reused, or adapted materials should include full and accurate citation of the original article, including:
- Author(s)
- Article title
- Journal title
- Year of publication
- Volume, issue, and page numbers (where available)
- DOI or permanent URL (where applicable)
The attribution must clearly indicate that the material is licensed under the applicable Creative Commons license.
The use of phrases such as “Reprinted with permission” is not required and may cause confusion regarding reuse rights.
Recommended Attribution Format:
For clarity and consistency, OSIR Journal recommends that reprinted or adapted material include a citation of the article. The citation may follow the reference style required by the new publication.
Examples:“Reprinted from: Author(s). Article title. OSIR. Year; Volume(Issue): Page–Page. DOI.”
For adapted content:
“Adapted from: Author(s). Article title. OSIR. Year; Volume(Issue): Page–Page. DOI.”
Responsibility of Reuse:
Users are responsible for ensuring that reprinted or reused content:
- Accurately reflects the original work;
- Clearly acknowledges the original authors and source;
- Clearly indicates any modifications or adaptations.
Revenue Sources
OSIR Journal is supported financially by the Division of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. This institutional support enables the journal to manage its editorial processes, maintain its online platform, and disseminate scientific information in epidemiology and public health without charging publication fees to authors.
The journal also benefits from national efforts that aim to strengthen the quality and management of academic journals in Thailand. These initiatives, including programs coordinated by the Thai-Journal Citation Index (TCI) Centre, contribute to improving editorial standards, publication management, and the overall development of scholarly journals.
All financial support provided to the journal is used solely to maintain and improve journal operations. Funding sources do not influence editorial policies, peer review, or publication decisions. All manuscripts are evaluated independently through the journal’s peer-review process based on their scientific quality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the field of epidemiology and public health.
OSIR remains committed to maintaining transparency, editorial independence, and standards of research integrity throughout the publication process.
Advertising and Direct Marketing
OSIR Journal does not accept advertising revenue or display paid advertisements. The announcement section is dedicated exclusively to promoting relevant academic events in the fields of epidemiology, public health, and health sciences.
OSIR Journal maintains effective communication channels with researchers in relevant fields to promote engagement and knowledge-sharing. Our outreach efforts include a variety of content types, such as editorials, original research, review articles, systematic reviews and policy and practice reviews ensuring that valuable scientific contributions reach the right audience.
In addition, when an article addresses topics of significant public health importance, OSIR Journal may prepare summaries in the form of informational clips or infographics. These materials are created by OSIR Journal for educational and dissemination purposes, with proper reference to the original publication. Such content may be shared through official platforms, including the official Facebook pages or websites of the Division of Epidemiology and the Thailand Field Epidemiology Training Program (Thailand FETP). These communications are intended solely to enhance knowledge translation and public health awareness and do not constitute advertising.
OSIR Journal upholds the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct, ensuring that all information about the journal and its publisher is accurate, reliable, and free from misleading content.
History of Journal
Outbreak, Surveillance & Investigation Reports (OSIR) e-Journal (online ISSN 2286-8933) was established in 2008 as an annual publication, initially featuring three articles per issue, a format that continued in 2009. Between 2010 and 2012, the journal increased its frequency to two issues per year. Between 2013 and 2017, the journal adopted a quarterly publication schedule, releasing issues in March, June, September, and December, each containing three articles. In 2018, to emphasize on the prompt response to the public health threats, the journal was renamed “Outbreak, Surveillance, Investigation & Response (OSIR) Journal” (online ISSN 2651-1061) and expanded the number of articles to four per issue. In 2023, the journal increased the number of articles to five to eight per issue, with 25 peer-reviewed research articles published per volume annually, excluding invited articles and editorials.
OSIR Journal is included in Thai-Journal Citation Index (TCI) and has been certified as a Tier 1 academic journal since 2013.
The covers of OSIR Journal have undergone changes over time, as follows:
The covers of the OSIR Journal have undergone changes over time, as follows:
Goal
To encourage and facilitate communication of health information and disease response across Asia and the Pacific with a freely available e-journal.
Open access policy
The OSIR journal retains the copyright for all articles published in the journal. To increase accessibility, the journal offers unrestricted access to the content under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Sponsorship
Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Objectives
01
To disseminate reports of outbreak investigation, surveillance evaluation and analyses, epidemiologic studies, and public health response relevant to Asia and the Pacific
02
To facilitate communication of health information across the region by increasing the number of publications by trainees and alumni from Thailand’s Field Epidemiology Training Program, as well as those from other competency-based training programs
03
To strengthen capacity building of applied epidemiology training programs by promoting the quality of publications
04
To understand similarities and differences in investigation, surveillance, and response in the region