Disease Surveillance

With the worldwide awareness of bioterrorism and drug-resistantinfectious diseases, the need for surveillance systems toaccurately detect emerging epidemicsis essential for maintainingglobal safety. Responding to these issues, Disease Surveillancebrings together fifteen eminent researchers in the fields ofmedicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, and medical informatics todefine the necessary elements of an effective disease surveillanceprogram, including research, development, implementation, andoperations. The surveillance systems and techniques presented inthe text are designed to best utilize modern technology, manageemerging public health threats, and adapt to environmentalchanges.

Following a historical overview detailing the need for diseasesurveillance systems, the text is divided into the following threeparts:

• Part One sets forth the informatics knowledge needed toimplement a disease surveillance system, including a discussion ofdata sources currently used in syndromic surveillance systems.

• Part Two provides case studies of modern disease surveillancesystems, including cases that highlight implementation andoperational difficulties as well as the successes experienced byhealth departments in the United States, Canada, Europe, andAsia.

• Part Three addresses practical issues concerning the evaluationof disease surveillance systems and the education of futureinformatics and disease surveillance practitioners. It alsoassesses how future technology will shape the field of diseasesurveillance.

This book's multidisciplinary approach is ideal for publichealth professionals who need to understand all the facets within adisease surveillance program and implement the technology needed tosupport surveillance activities. An outline of the componentsneeded for a successful disease surveillance system combined withextensive use of case studies makes this book well-suited as atextbook for public health informatics courses