Which program was designed to determine the burden of foodborne disease in the United States and monitor trends over time?

Which program was designed to determine the burden of foodborne disease in the United States and monitor trends over time?

• A. FoodNet
• B. PulseNet
• C. EHS-Net
• D. FightBac!

Answer: (A)

Tracking how many people get sick from foodborne pathogens and how those numbers change over time is done with a national, population-based surveillance system that actively gathers data across multiple sites. That’s what FoodNet does as the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. It collects lab-confirmed cases of specific pathogens from defined populations in participating states, estimates the incidence per 100,000 people, and uses these data to gauge the true burden of illness (including cases that aren’t diagnosed) and to monitor trends over years. In short, FoodNet is designed to measure how big the problem is and how it evolves. For context, PulseNet focuses on DNA fingerprinting to connect illness to outbreaks, rather than measuring overall burden; EHS-Net looks at environmental factors in places like restaurants; and FightBac! is a consumer education campaign about preventing foodborne illness at home.

Tracking how many people get sick from foodborne pathogens and how those numbers change over time is done with a national, population-based surveillance system that actively gathers data across multiple sites. That’s what FoodNet does as the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. It collects lab-confirmed cases of specific pathogens from defined populations in participating states, estimates the incidence per 100,000 people, and uses these data to gauge the true burden of illness (including cases that aren’t diagnosed) and to monitor trends over years. In short, FoodNet is designed to measure how big the problem is and how it evolves.

For context, PulseNet focuses on DNA fingerprinting to connect illness to outbreaks, rather than measuring overall burden; EHS-Net looks at environmental factors in places like restaurants; and FightBac! is a consumer education campaign about preventing foodborne illness at home.