Abstract
This article provides insights into the future based on a review of the past and present of public health surveillance—the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health action. Public health surveillance dates back to the first recorded epidemic in 3180 BC in Egypt. A number of lessons and items of interest are summarised from a review of historical perspectives in the past 5,000 years and the current practice of surveillance. Some future scenarios are presented: exploring new frontiers; enhancing computer technology; improving epidemic investigations; improving data collection, analysis, dissemination and use; building on lessons from the past; building capacity; and enhancing global surveillance. It is concluded that learning from the past, reflecting on the present, and planning for the future can further enhance public health surveillance.
Highlights
The term “surveillance”, derived from the French roots, sur and veiller [1], is defined in the dictionary as the “close and continuous observation of one or more persons for the purpose of direction, supervision, or control” [2]
The first recorded epidemic in human history was “a great pestilence” that occurred in Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Mempses in the First Dynasty, 3180 Before Christ (BC) [4]
The history of public health surveillance is full of blood, sweat and tears – blood of injury and sacrifice, sweat of hard labour, and tears of setback and failure
Summary
The term “surveillance”, derived from the French roots, sur (over) and veiller (to watch) [1], is defined in the dictionary as the “close and continuous observation of one or more persons for the purpose of direction, supervision, or control” [2]. For the purpose of this article, public health surveillance is defined as “the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of health data for the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health action” [3]. The objective of this article is to provide insights into the future, based on a review of the past and present of public health surveillance
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