Mixed surveillance means combining passive and active surveillance systems. This can work well, leading to better monitoring of communicable diseases and other health problems. Disease control programmes for HIV/AIDS, polio and malaria use a combination of passive and active surveillance systems.

So far, we have described to you the background needed to understand surveillance systems. The box below summarises the features of a high-quality public health surveillance system in any country.

Features of good public health surveillance

A high-quality public health surveillance system:

  • Involves and encourages the community to report all cases of diseases and other health problems
  • Uses both active and passive surveillance for effective disease control and prevention
  • Collects only useful data, using a simple data collection method
  • Uses laboratory services to confirm clinical diagnosis of disease
  • Reports data to the higher level when required and without delay
  • Quickly takes the right actions to improve services or programmes after data are reported.
Last modified: Wednesday, 9 July 2014, 9:23 PM