What public health activity focuses on preventing outbreaks of diseases?

Surveillance and monitoring play a crucial role in public health by systematically collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to health conditions in a population. This activity enables public health officials to detect and track patterns of disease occurrence, identify potential outbreaks, and respond promptly to control the spread of infectious diseases. By maintaining vigilant oversight of disease trends, health authorities can implement targeted interventions, allocate resources efficiently, and inform the public about risks.

Promoting healthy lifestyles, while essential, primarily focuses on encouraging individuals to adopt behaviors that prevent disease rather than on the active detection or monitoring of disease occurrences. Conducting health assessments is important for identifying public health needs but does not directly relate to the ongoing surveillance required to prevent outbreaks. Providing access to healthcare is vital for ensuring that individuals can receive necessary medical attention but does not address the proactive monitoring aspect of disease prevention.