CDC disease surveillance efforts examined

The CDC has developed an electronic early warning system that will monitor emergency rooms across the country for the first signs of an impending pandemic or biological attack. Dubbed BioSense, the system cost $50 million to develop in 2005 and is expected to incorporate 250 emergency rooms by the end of the year. When the system is fully operational, CDC officials in Atlanta will be able to watch real time data on patient symptoms and diagnoses from 30 major metropolitan areas. The Wall Street Journal examines the program and its public health implications and drawbacks. The newspaper also looks at state surveillance efforts like the North Carolina Hospital Emergency Surveillance System, a regional network established with federal and local funds using technology developed by Durham-based MercuryMD.

- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req).

Post a comment