Abstract
The word “surveillance” probably first referred to close supervision of individuals exposed to an infectious disease and their close contacts (1). Currently, though, surveillance refers more frequently to the ongoing accumulation of data so that it can be used for decision-making. A surveillance system includes collection, analysis, and dissemination of data. Surveillance can be used to evaluate trends in disease, to identify outbreaks, to test hypotheses, to evaluate existing programs, and to plan for new programs. Surveillance is the single most important tool for identifying infectious diseases that are emerging, are causing serious public health problems, or are diminishing in importance (2).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Thacker S. B. and Berkelman R. L. (1988) Public health surveillance in the United States. Epidemiol. Rev. 10, 164–190.
Murray C. J. L. and Lopez A. D. (1996) Anonymous Global Health Statistics: a compendium of incidence, prevalence, and mortality estimates for over 200 conditions. The Harvard School of Public Health on behalf of The World Health Organization and the World Bank Boston, 283–309.
World Health Organization (1996) Cerebrospinal meningitis in Africa. Wkly.Epidemiol. Rep. 42, 318–319.
World Health Organization (1997) Epidemic meningitis in Africa, 1997. Wkly.Epidemiol. Rep. 42, 314–318.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1997) Case definitions for infectious conditions under public health surveillance. MMWR 46(RR-10), 1–55.
World Health Organization Working Group (1995) Control of epidemic meningococcal diseases. WHO Practical Guidelines. Edition Fondation Marcel Merieux Lyon, France.
Effler P., Ching-Lee M., Bogard A., et al. (1999) Statewide system of electronic notifiable disease reporting from clinical laboratories. JAMA 282, 1845–1850.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998) Guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems. MMWR 37, 1–18.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998)Guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems.MMWR 37,1–18.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1997) Control and prevention of meningococcal disease and Control and prevention of serogroup C meningococcal disease: evaluation and management of suspected outbreaks. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 46(RR-5), 1–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Rosenstein, N.E. (2001). Global Surveillance for Meningococcal Disease. In: Walker, J.M., Pollard, A.J., Maiden, M.C.J. (eds) Meningococcal Disease. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 67. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-149-3:333
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-149-3:333
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-849-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-149-7
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols