UTILITY OF EMERGENCY, TELEPHONE-BASED NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE FOR HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME

On May 27, 1993, in response to the outbreak investigation of newly re cognized Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Four Corners state s (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado), the Centers for Disease C ontrol and Prevention established a national surveillance case definit ion for severe, unexplained respiratory disease to determine the exten t of HPS throughout the United States, A toll-free telephone hotline n umber was instituted to provide updated information about unexplained respiratory illness and to serve as a passive mechanism for reporting suspected cases. Clinical information was obtained from callers report ing suspected cases, and diagnostic specimens and medical record revie ws were requested from health care providers, From June 3 through Dece mber 31, 1993, the hotline received 21 443 telephone inquiries; caller s identified 280 suspected cases living outside the Four Comers states with at least one specimen available for diagnostic testing. By Decem ber 31, 1993, 21 confirmed cases (age range, 14 to 58 years) residing in 11 states outside the Four Corners region had been identified, This passive surveillance system was successful in rapidly identifying the widespread sporadic geographic distribution for HPS cases throughout the United States and could serve as a model for similar emergencies, Expanding and coordinating surveillance systems for the early detectio n, tracking, and evaluation of emerging infections is a critical compo nent of disease prevention.