Public health disease surveillance is defined as the ongoing systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health data for use in the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health, with the overarching goal of providing information to government and the public to improve public health actions and guidance. Since the 1950s, the goals and objectives of disease surveillance have remained consistent. However, the systems and processes have changed dramatically due to advances in information and communication technology, and the availability of electronic health data. At the intersection of public health, national security and health information technology emerged the practice of syndromic surveillance.
Objective
Review of the origins and evolution of the field of syndromic surveillance. Compare the goals and objectives of public health surveillance and syndromic surveillance in particular. Assess the science and practice of syndromic surveillance in the context of public health and national security priorities. Evaluate syndromic surveillance in practice, using case studies from the perspective of a local public health department.