The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50786

C. Clements, RN¹, Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH¹, W. Locklear, RN¹, Crystal Stilwell², and Crystal Stilwell². (1) Mecklenburg County Health Department, 249 Billingsley Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211-1097, (2) Senior Project Manager, Zapata Engineering, 1100 Kenilworth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204

As a result of the September 11, 2002 attack and subsequent deaths from anthrax-contaminated mail, the public health community has been called upon develop a system providing early detection of unusual disease patterns or trends that could indicate a biological terrorist event. Existing manual passive surveillance measures were electronically enhanced by one local health department, which began collecting daily syndromic/disease data from local emergency departments, urgent care centers and private physicians practices. Absentee and illness data is collected from area companies and child daycare centers. Additional sentinel sites included in the first phase of an electronic system include: area hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers; emergency medical services; the local school district, child daycare centers; and the regional poison center. The next phase of development may include the utility department, pharmacies, university health centers, veterinarians and wildlife agencies, and nursing homes.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant will be able to

• describe the difference between active and passive surveillance;
• identify ways to improve communication about disease surveillance among health care providers and
• recognize how an active electronic surveillance system can assist in early detection of bioterrorism and other disease events.

Related Web page: www.meckhealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Zapata Engineering, is on contract with the Mecklenburg County health department to develop the electronic surveillance system