Our public health and managed care delivery system is dependent upon early recognition and detection that an unusual event has occurred in our community. This is far more difficult in the case of a release of an infectious, communicable biological agent. Rapid diagnosis and reporting of suspicious symptoms is crucial, if we are to save as many lives as possible.
Effective surveillance depends on vigilance and sharing information among multiple entities responsible for health and public safety.
Thus we have begun building networks and in many cases, alternative surveillance systems o communicate suspicious events that may be our first clue that something has gone terribly wrong. It involves:
Physicians and nurse gatekeepers
Infection control practitioners
Laboratories
Pharmacies
Veterinarians
Coroners/ medical examiners
911- Centers