Global Health: Framework for Infectious Disease Surveillance
Abstract
In its simplest terms, public health experts define disease surveillance as the generation of "information for action." Infectious disease surveillance provides national and international public health authorities with information that they need to plan and manage efforts to control the diseases. In recent years, public health officials have expressed concern about the adequacy of the global framework for infectious disease surveillance. In 1995 both the World Health Assembly (the governing body of the World Health Organization) and the U.S. National Science and Technology Council determined that, in light of the global public health threat posed by infectious diseases, existing surveillance arrangements could not be considered adequate. Both organizations, for example, found serious deficiencies in the ability of health systems to diagnose infectious diseases and investigate their sources and modes of transmission. Since then, concern about the framework's capacity has increased as public dialogue has intensified on HIV/AlDS, West Nile fever, and other infectious disease threats to U.S. and global public health.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 20, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA380080
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office