BioSense

Following these critiques, efforts have been made to improve BioSense. By integrating local and state-level information, CDC aims to integrate (i.e., multistate) and national levels and improve BioSense's utility. The key components of the BioSense program redesign are to:

• Help build health monitoring infrastructure and workforce capacity where needed at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels
• Facilitate the interchange of information that can be used to coordinate responses and monitor health-related outcomes routinely and during an event
• Retain the original purpose of BioSense to detect and characterize events (or health-related threats) early by building on state and local health departments systems and programs
• Expand the utility of BioSense data to multi-use [and all-hazard] beyond early event detection and to contribute information for public health situational awareness, routine public health practice, and improved health outcomes and public health
• Improve the ability to detect emergency health-related threats by supporting the enhancement of systems to signal alerts for potential problems
• Increasing local and state jurisdictions participation in BioSense

BioSense mandate and establishment

Mandated in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002, the CDC BioSense Program was launched in 2003 to establish an integrated national public health surveillance system for early detection and rapid assessment of potential bioterrorism-related illness.