Bioterrorism >
Surveillance for Bioterrorism
NOTE: the following is a list of surveillance resources related specifically to bioterrorism. For surveillance resources relevant to all types of emergencies, please see Emergency Preparedness and Response: Surveillance.
On this page:
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Surveillance for Specific Agents
- Anthrax
- Smallpox
- More information about specific agents can be found on the Bioterrorism Agents page.
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Surveillance for All Bioterrorism
- Bioterrorism Case Definitions
- MMWR: Recognition of Illness Associated with the Intentional Release of a Biologic Agent
MMWR 2001 Oct 19;50(41):893-897.
Provides guidance for healthcare providers & public health personnel about recognizing illnesses or patterns of illness that might be associated with intentional release of biologic agents.

PDF (168 KB/20 pages)
- Syndrome Definitions for Diseases Associated with Critical Bioterrorism-associated Agents
ICD-9-CM codes that can be used in syndromic surveillance programs.
- EID Journal: Endemic, Notifiable Bioterrorism-Related Diseases, United States, 1992–1999
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003 May;9(5):556-564.
- Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS)
Free syndromic surveillance tool for city, county, & state public health officials in the U.S.
- National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS)
Project description, draft standards, & documentation. From HISSB (Health Information & Surveillance Systems Board).
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Additional Research & References
- EID Journal: Detecting Bioterror Attacks by Screening Blood Donors: A Best-Case Analysis
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003 Aug;9(8).
- EID Journal: Fatal Infectious Disease Surveillance in a Medical Examiner Database
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2004 Jan;10(1).
- EID Journal: Evaluating Detection & Diagnostic Decision Support Systems for Bioterrorism Response
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2004 Jan;10(1).
- EID Journal: Syndromic Surveillance & Bioterrorism-related Epidemics
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003 Oct.;9(10):1197-1204.
- EID Journal: Syndromic Surveillance in Public Health Practice, New York City
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2004 May;10(5):858-864.
- EID Journal: Multijurisdictional Approach to Biosurveillance, Kansas City
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003 Oct.;9(10):1281-1286.
- EID Journal: Use of Automated Ambulatory-Care Encounter Records for Detection of Acute Illness Clusters, Including Potential Bioterrorism Events
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2002 Aug;8(8):753-760.
- EID Journal: Automated, Laboratory-based System Using the Internet for Disease Outbreak Detection, the Netherlands
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003 Sep;9(9):1046-1052.