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Public Health Systems and Emerging Infections Assessing the Capabilities of the Public and Private Sectors: Workshop Summary (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix C Emerging Infectious Diseases: Consensus on Needed Laboratory Capacity Could Strengthen Surveillance
Pages 90-96

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From page 90...
... GAO's survey found that most states conduct surveillance of five of the six emerging infectious diseases GAO asked about, and state public health laboratories conduct tests to support state surveillance of four of the six; (3) over half of the state laboratories do not conduct tests for surveillance of hepatitis C and penicillin-resistant S
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From page 91...
... many state officials told GAO that they did not have sufficient staffing and technology resources, and public health officials have not agreed on a consensus definition of the minimum capabilities that state and local health departments need to conduct infectious diseases surveillance; (10) this lack of consensus makes it difficult to assess resource needs; (11)
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From page 92...
... Public health officials refer to this activity as surveillance the ongoing collection, analysis, and interpretation of disease-related data to plan, implement, and evaluate public health actions. Many public health experts have raised concerns about the adequacy of the nation's infectious diseases surveillance network, especially for those diseases considered to be emerging that is, ones more prevalent now than 20 years ago or ones that show signs of becoming more prevalent in the near future.
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From page 93...
... provides to states for laboratory-related surveillance and the value of this assistance to state officials. To provide information on the contribution of laboratories to the surveillance network, we surveyed the directors of all state public health laboratories and infectious diseases epidemiology programs that report disease-related information directly to CDC, including officials in all 50 states, 5 territories, the District of Columbia, and New York City.2 We also conducted case studies in Kentucky, New York, and Oregon; spoke with additional state and local public health officials around the country; and interviewed CDC officials.
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From page 94...
... State officials also expressed concerns about CDC's many separate data reporting systems, which result in duplication of effort and drain scarce staff resources. Although many state officials told us that they did not have sufficient staffing and technology resources, public health officials have not agreed on a consensus definition of the minimum capabilities that state and local health departments need to conduct infectious diseases surveillance.
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From page 95...
... CDC's continued commitment to integrating its own data systems and to helping states and localities build integrated electronic data and communication systems could give state and local public health agencies vital assistance in carrying out their infectious diseases surveillance and reporting responsibilities. The lack of a consensus definition of what constitutes an adequate infectious diseases surveillance system may contribute to some of the shortcomings in the surveillance network.
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From page 96...
... Recommendation to the Director of CDC To improve the nation's public health surveillance of infectious diseases and help ensure adequate public protection, we recommend that the Director of CDC lead an effort to help federal, state, and local public health officials create consensus on the core capacities needed at each level of government. The consensus should address such matters as the number and qualifications of laboratory and epidemiologic staff, laboratory and information technology, and CDC's support of the nation's infectious diseases surveillance system.
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Key Terms

  • diseases surveillance
  • emerging infectious
  • health officials
  • state public
  • surveillance network

  • health laboratories
  • state officials
  • emerging infections
  • conduct infectious
  • states conduct

  • laboratory data
  • local public
  • state surveillance
  • epidemiologists believe
  • surveillance programs

  • state epidemiologists
  • health surveillance
  • laboratory directors
  • health departments
  • local health

  • six emerging
  • consensus definition
  • conduct tests
  • molecular technology
  • state laboratory

  • leaving gaps
  • epidemiologists reported
  • selected emerging
  • inadequate staffing
  • epidemiology programs


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