title: [Syndromic surveillance for the detection of outbreaks of unusual infectious diseases].
abstract: Syndromic surveillance has been developed in order to detect outbreaks of unusual infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or anthrax at an early stage. Whereas the usual surveillance systems are based on established diagnoses and emergency department discharge data, syndromic surveillance uses preliminary outcomes and derived data such as absenteeism, prescription medication and requests for laboratory tests. Investigations abroad have indicated the potential ofsyndromic surveillance. In the Netherlands, the National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM) is examining the feasibility of implementing syndromic surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Centrum voor Infectieziekten Epidemiologie. kees.van.den.wijngaard@rivm.nl
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: van den Wijngaard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Asten
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Vliet
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Pelt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance