Surveillance
Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data about a health-related event for use in public health action to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve health. In other words, surveillance is the "eyes and ears" of public health. The effective and efficient surveillance system detects outbreaks early so that timely preventive action can be taken.

Epidemiology
Public health epidemiology is the collection of investigative methods to study of the causes of disease and injury as well as health. It incorporates the use of statistical techniques and an understanding of environmental, genetic and social characteristics important in disease development and spread. The science of epidemiology began with the investigation of infectious disease outbreaks. Today, epidemiology includes the study of modern plagues including heart disease, cancer, stroke and injuries.

Framework for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems for Early Detection of Outbreaks
This report supplements previous guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems. Use of this framework is intended to improve decision-making regarding the implementation of surveillance for outbreak detection. The evaluation framework is designed to support assessment and description of all surveillance approaches to early detection, whether through traditional disease reporting, specialized analytic routines for aberration detection, or surveillance using early indicators of disease outbreaks, such as syndromic surveillance.

Bioterrorism Surveillance Activities In New Hampshire [PDF, 125 kb]
This is a report of the public health disease surveillance systems employed by the NH Bureaus of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control for detecting, investigating and providing disease control and prevention measures following a bioterrorism incident.

New Hampshire Reportable Diseases - Laboratory [PDF, 12 kb]
List of organisms required by New Hampshire law (RSA 141-C) to be reported by laboratories within 24-72 hours as part of the surveillance system to identify potential outbreaks. (Last Revised: 04/17/2001)

New Hampshire Reportable Diseases - Health Care Providers [PDF, 13 kb]
List of communicable diseases required by New Hampshire law (RSA 141-C) to be reported by health care providers within 24-72 hours as part of the surveillance system to identify: 1) gastrointestinal illness in a food handler, day care worker, or direct health care worker, and 2) suspect outbreaks of any illness.

NH Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance [PDF, 112 kb]
Bureau of Communicable Disease Surveillance presentation on the NH emergency department syndromic surveillance system.