Columbus Public Health monitors the presence and spread of disease and other illness through a process called surveillance.  This information is collected and analyzed so that public health programs can plan and respond to health threats effectively.  (See CDC Information Loop Surveillance)

Traditionally, public health surveillance has used information collected after an illness has been diagnosed and reported. Newer methods of surveillance have been added that may help identify disease outbreaks earlier. 

These new methods are referred to as "syndromic surveillance."  For example, indicators of illness prior to diagnosis such as increases in the sale of over-the-counter medications or increases in school absenteeism are collected and analyzed to determine potential outbreaks. (See Surveillance Timeline Scenario)

Communicable Disease Surveillance At Columbus Public Health

Communicable Disease Reporting System (CDRS)

The CDRS is the combined communicable disease reporting system for all health care providers in Franklin County, including the City of Columbus. Health care providers are required by law to report cases, or suspected cases, of specific communicable diseases. This system plays a critical role in monitoring communicable disease in the community. 

The CDRS System:

• provides an easy way to report communicable disease cases in Columbus and Franklin County 24 hours a day;
• provides a method for early detection of possible outbreaks;
• allows for timely case follow-up and preventive interventions which will result in fewer additional cases; and,
• allows for reporting and analysis of disease trends.
  
  For more information go to the CDRS website

Early Event Surveillance System

The early event surveillance system is an automated computer-based public health surveillance system, based on tracking indicators for potential health events.  The early event surveillance system automatically collects information from two sources:

1. Selected large retailers provide information on the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) medication:  OTC medication includes non-prescription drugs, such as those to treat coughs and colds, fever, and diarrhea, as well as thermometers.   These sales could indicate a large-scale community illness, prior to its diagnosis by medical professionals.
2. Hospital Emergency Department registration documentation is also used. When a patient goes to a hospital emergency department, a nurse or registration clerk records the patient's reason for visiting the hospital. This reason is known as the patient's "chief complaint."   These are then monitored for early signs of large-scale community illness.

The early event surveillance system is used to:

• Analyzes information to detect possible outbreaks or disease trends
• Alerts public health authorities if a possible outbreak has or could occur
• Help characterize and monitor outbreaks
• Provides a timely continuous flow of information

Early event surveillance data are used with other sources of data, including traditional disease reporting, to help provide a more complete picture of current community health status.

Influenza Surveillance

Columbus Public Health and the Franklin County Board of Health collect information on influenza (flu) and influenza like illnesses from October through May.  This includes:

• Pneumonia and Influenza deaths in the City of Columbus
• Number of students absent from the Columbus Public Schools
• Influenza-like illnesses reported from specific medical offices throughout the County
• Nationwide Children's Hospital laboratory data

This information is used to:

• determine when and where influenza outbreaks are occurring
• track patterns of influenza related illnesses
• measure the impact of influenza in the community

All influenza activity reporting is voluntary and we thank all of our providers for their participation.

For the latest weekly report of local influenza surveillance go to the CDRS website. 

For more information regarding influenza surveillance nationally go to CDC.