What is Syndromic Surveillance

Most analyses of possible future bioterrorism events predict they may be similar to the anthrax events of 2001. Specifically, a limited population of individuals may experience morbidity or mortality, but the concern, panic, and worry stirred up by the threat will catch the attention of the entire nation. If public health IT is to help with bioterrorism preparedness, it needs to not only address the mitigation of civilian illnesses and deaths, but also help to manage individual and societal fears springing from the real or threatened occurrence of such an event.