On the threshold

Abstract

Due to the October 2001 intentional anthrax releases, the United States has entered an era where the need for rapid detection of outbreaks is understood as never before. Traditionally the nation has relied on astute clinicians and practitioners to identify unusual disease occurrences and notify local or state public health departments in order to initiate an investigation and control measures. Routine surveillance systems, while important for monitoring trends, have been of limited value for rapid detection, as data are neither timely nor complete. The advent of the Information Age brings visions of real-time electronic surveillance systems to complement astute clinicians, but there are many unanswered questions as to how this opportunity can best be realized.