Describing Biosurveillance: The First Step in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 Strategic Implementation Plan

Describing Biosurveillance: The First Step in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 Strategic Implementation Plan.

 AT Fleischauer, PS Diaz, D Giles, DJ Baden, SC Zeigler, MS Lawlor, C Weaver, DM Sosin

 Biosurveillance Coordination Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333

 Background: Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21) mandates development of an integrated national biosurveillance capability to provide early warning and characterization of urgent events.  CDC is leading the development of a nationwide human health biosurveillance strategy by engaging public and private stakeholders and all levels of government to plan for investments in scientifically-sound innovations.  An assessment of the current biosurveillance capability is a pre-requisite to developing a well-informed strategy for the future of biosurveillance.

 Methods: The HSPD-21 definition of biosurveillance was refined for precision and scope, and a tool was developed for federal, state and local partners to assess current biosurveillance capability within their jurisdiction. This tool was supplemented by existing nationwide surveys and capacity assessments.

 Results: Biosurveillance is the collection and integration of timely health-related information for public health action achieved through the early detection, characterization, and situation awareness of exposures and acute human health events of public health significance. The scope is all-hazards of public health significance, consistent with the International Health Regulations (2005).  A biosurveillance capability is a function of information derived from both structured and unstructured surveillance and epidemiologic investigation, all of which are highly dependent on a skilled public health workforce. Biosurveillance information will be characterized by timeliness, representativeness, quality and usefulness, and sustainability to provide an estimate of current capability.

 Discussion: Current capability is rooted in key systems, methods, and trained personnel that provide timely information for public health action.  This presentation will provide newly gathered information for an overview of current federal, state, local, and tribal capability for biosurveillance.