Characterized as a regular activity, the purpose of epidemiological surveillance is to obtain knowledge about health conditions and disease occurrence, providing support for control and / or erradication programs. Because of its comprehensive, dynamic and permanent nature, this activity has been qualified as a key function of national animal and human health systems. Epidemiological survey is its main tool and the means to obtain data includes passive and active surveillance, disease surveillance and monitoring, a more specific activity that has the objective of obtaining additional knowledge about aspects of an epidemiological pattern or performance of health-related operations. |