The next public health revolution: public health information fusion and social networks

Am J Public Health. 2010 Jul;100(7):1237-42. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.180489.

Abstract

Social, political, and economic disruptions caused by natural and human-caused public health emergencies have catalyzed public health efforts to expand the scope of biosurveillance and increase the timeliness, quality, and comprehensiveness of disease detection, alerting, response, and prediction. Unfortunately, efforts to acquire, render, and visualize the diversity of health intelligence information are hindered by its wide distribution across disparate fields, multiple levels of government, and the complex interagency environment. Achieving this new level of situation awareness within public health will require a fundamental cultural shift in methods of acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating information. The notion of information "fusion" may provide opportunities to expand data access, analysis, and information exchange to better inform public health action.

MeSH terms

  • Bioterrorism / prevention & control
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination / methods*
  • Internet*
  • Public Health Practice / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Sentinel Surveillance*
  • Social Support*
  • United States