FoodNet is an ____ surveillance system; public health officials routinely communicate with more than 700 clinical laboratories to identify new infections and ensure that all infections are reported.

• A. Passive
• B. Syndromic
• C. Active
• D. Sentinel

Answer: (C)

Active surveillance is a proactive approach in which public health officials actively seek out cases, collect data, and verify reports rather than waiting for information to come in. FoodNet does exactly this by routinely communicating with more than 700 clinical laboratories to identify new infections and ensure that all infections are reported. This ongoing outreach allows for more complete and timely data on foodborne illnesses within a defined population, which is essential for detecting trends and guiding interventions.

In contrast, passive surveillance relies on providers or laboratories to report cases on their own initiative, which often leads to underreporting and delays. Sentinel surveillance uses data from a limited number of sites to infer trends, rather than capturing all cases. Syndromic surveillance focuses on symptoms rather than confirmed laboratory results. The described practice best fits active surveillance because it emphasizes proactive case finding and comprehensive reporting.