Traditionally, cases of disease or health conditions were reported to surveillance systems by clinically-based physicians; however, many surveillance systems now rely on information provided by other health professionals as well such as nurses, infection control specialists, and public health practitioners in hospitals, laboratories, school and occupational settings, and nursing homes. In general, the most complete surveillance systems consist of multiple reporting sources, only some of which are included here. Summaries of surveillance information should be provided to these types of individuals and groups who report case information to your surveillance system.

Surveillance information should also be provided to people and organizations who provide resources important to community-based disease control efforts (e.g., suppliers of pharmaceuticals and protective gear for investigations of disease outbreaks and toxic exposures; medical organizations), policy makers, the press, and anyone else responsible for program and policy development and implementation. And don’t forget to provide information back to members of the public, especially those populations at highest risk for and/or who have already suffered from the disease or health condition monitored by your surveillance system.