Brian J. Labus, MPH, Office of Epidemiology, Clark County Health District, PO Box 3902, Las Vegas, NV 89127, 702-759-1300, labus@cchd.org

From an epidemiological perspective, outbreaks caused by the intentional release of a pathogen are similar to naturally-occurring outbreaks. In either case, the ability to rapidly identify and monitor the outbreak is essential to controlling the spread of disease. In many jurisdictions, emergency preparedness funds have been spent on developing and implementing syndromic surveillance systems designed to rapidly identify a covert bioterrorist attack. Although not often considered in the initial design, syndromic surveillance systems can be easily adapted to monitor common, endemic diseases. Through this “dual use” of syndromic surveillance systems, the naturally occurring patterns of disease in a community can be better understood, enhancing the ability of public health agencies to detect outbreaks of any origin. Although syndromic surveillance systems create new opportunities to monitor disease and identify outbreaks, they also create new challenges for public health agencies. The need to rapidly and appropriately respond to anomalies in disease trends identified by syndromic surveillance systems is not often considered when public health agencies request funds to implement those systems. A comprehensive response plan is essential to the appropriate utilization of syndromic surveillance systems, and should be considered in the cost of a system.

Learning Objectives: