How is FoodNet different from other foodborne disease surveillance systems?
Current “passive” surveillance systems rely upon reporting of foodborne diseases by clinical laboratories to state health departments, which in turn report to CDC. Although foodborne diseases are extremely common, only a fraction of these illnesses are routinely reported to CDC via these surveillance systems. This is because a complex chain of events must occur before such a case is reported, and a break at any link along the chain will result in a case not being reported. FoodNet is an “active” surveillance system, meaning public health officials frequently contact laboratory directors to find new cases of foodborne diseases and report these cases electronically to CDC. In addition, FoodNet is designed to monitor each of the events that occur along the foodborne diseases pyramid and thereby allow more accurate and precise estimates and interpretation of the burden of foodborne diseases over time. Because most foodborne infections cause diarrheal illness, FoodNet focuses these efforts
