Abstract

<p>Disease surveillance is a cornerstone of public health efforts aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Timely and accurate monitoring of disease patterns, along with early outbreak detection, allows for swift responses, reducing the impact of diseases and saving lives. In recent years, information technology (IT) has significantly enhanced disease surveillance by leveraging datadriven technologies, analytics, and artificial intelligence to improve outbreak detection and response strategies. Public health practitioners play an essential role in disease surveillance and intervention efforts, contributing to the early identification of outbreaks and the effective implementation of containment measures. Countries with established Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) systems are expected to use standardized case definitions to identify and report notifiable diseases, analyze data for outbreak investigation, and implement appropriate responses. Tools such as the Global Public Health Intelligence Network, HealthMap, and EpiSPIDER have been instrumental in processing event-based outbreak data to improve response efforts. The adoption of IT tools like mobile applications and web-based surveillance systems has further facilitated epidemic monitoring and real-time response efforts on a global scale. Effective outbreak control also relies on coordinated efforts among multiple stakeholders, with clinicians focusing on diagnosis and treatment, while public health departments manage surveillance and contact tracing activities. Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) play a vital role in enhancing the efficiency of these response operations, ensuring that outbreaks are contained effectively. This paper explores the integration of information technology in disease surveillance and emphasizes the role of public health practitioners and collaborative systems in epidemic preparedness and response</p>