•The directed identification of cases of
a particular
disease
•
•Usually initiated by Bureau of
Health
•
•Most common during an epidemic
•
•Can also be event-based
Speaking Points
•Active surveillance is the directed identification of cases of a
particular disease
•It is typically initiated by a public health department during an
epidemic, when public health officials are concerned with identifying as many
cases as possible so as to obtain an accurate picture of the magnitude of the
epidemic, and to best guide control and prevention measures
•Active surveillance may also be event-based. For example, during
important events such as the Olympics where security is elevated,
epidemiologists will conduct active surveillance of anything out of the
ordinary in order to detect a possible bioterrorist event
•Unlike routine surveillance, active surveillance is typically finite,
not ongoing beyond resolution of the epidemic or completion of the event
