As I indicated at the beginning of my presentation, surveillance involves not only collecting and analyzing data, but also reporting it back to the people who provide it, and those who can use it to develop and change public health programs and policies.

Because surveillance data provides "information for action“, we aim not just to transmit or disseminate surveillance data but instead to communicate it in a way that facilitates and encourages people to use it to improve the health of a community or population of interest. It’s important to keep in mind that: Dissemination is a one-way process in which information is conveyed from one person to another, i.e., information is provided. In contrast, communication involves both a sender and a receiver who share information in a collaborative process. We want to collaborate with our partners in health, government, and the community on efforts that will influence disease prevention and health promotion programs and policies.