What is an example of active surveillance in public health?

Active surveillance in public health refers to the proactive approach of gathering data and monitoring health events by directly engaging with individuals or populations. This method is instrumental in identifying health issues in real-time and enables prompt intervention if necessary.

The choice that demonstrates active surveillance involves public health nurses visiting local shelters to screen individuals for hepatitis A. This example reflects the active engagement of health professionals in the community, where they directly interact with individuals to assess their health status. By screening for hepatitis A, nurses are collecting current data that can inform immediate public health actions, such as vaccination or awareness campaigns, to prevent further transmission of the disease.

Other options primarily represent more passive forms of data collection, such as analyzing existing reports, surveying behaviors, or reviewing historical data. These methods rely on information that has already been collected or recorded and do not involve direct interaction with the affected individuals or populations surrounding current health issues. Hence, they lack the immediacy and data collection strategy characterized by active surveillance.