Traditionally epidemiological surveillance was focused on infectious diseases. However, over time, surveillance within the field of public health has expanded to also encompass concern with non-infectious conditions such chronic diseases, injuries, and environmental and occupational exposures, as well as personal behaviors that promote health and prevent disease. Surveillance data from all of these areas is essential for developing policies and programs and evaluating their effectiveness in preventing and efficiently bringing public health problems under control. When personnel and financial resources are limited, surveillance data is also critical for cost effectiveness evaluations which guide decisions on how limited resources can be prioritized and allocated to resolve a multitude of diverse and competing public health problems simultaneously.

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4) Centers for Disease Control. Updatead guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems. Recommendations from the Guidelines Working Group. MMWR 2001; 50 (RR13): 2.