BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the anthrax letters, the ability to detect biological threats as quickly as possible became a top priority. In 2003 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced the BioWatch program-a federal monitoring system intended to speed detection of specific biological agents that could be released in aerosolized form during a biological attack. The present volume evaluates the costs and merits of both the current BioWatch program and the plans for a new generation of BioWatch devices. BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance also examines infectious disease surveillance through hospitals and public health agencies in the United States, and considers whether BioWatch and traditional infectious disease surveillance are redundant or complementary. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction and Background 2 The BioWatch System 3 Evaluation of the BioWatch System 4 Detecting Biological Threats Through the Public Health and Health Care Systems: Current Status 5 Enhancing Surveillance to Detect and Characterize Infectious Disease Threats 6 BioWatch and Enhanced National Biosurveillance Resources Appendix A: Study Activities Appendix B: Glossary Appendix C: Summary of Research into the Costs of Enhanced Public Health Surveillance Systems Appendix D: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members