The field of syndromic surveillance has received increased attention over the past decade as an expansion of traditional disease detection methods. There is, however, little or no consensus, regarding a standard definition encompassing the full scope of the term 'syndromic surveillance'. Several researchers have proposed at least 36 alternative names to differentiate various forms of syndromic surveillance but none has taken hold (including early warning, health indicator surveillance, enhanced surveillance, among others). Katz et al presented a redefining of syndromic surveillance as two overarching categories of 'syndrome based' versus 'syndrome non-specific' surveillance1. In addition, the Meaningful Use Stage 2 standard for syndromic surveillance includes both pre-diagnostic and diagnostic data elements, further broadening the scope of this surveillance method.
Objective
To provide a forum for stakeholders from various sectors of syndromic surveillance research and practice to discuss and establish a more accurate and comprehensive yet succinct definition of syndromic surveillance, based on lessons learned and innovations in public health surveillance practice.