6.4. Control tools and policies

6.4.1. Surveillance

Commission Decision 2000/96/EC specifies the list of communicable diseases (as listed on http://europa.eu.int) to be placed progressively under EU-wide surveillance and the criteria for their selection. The network's main task is to monitor and track developments. Within that network, disease-specific networks (as listed on http://europa.eu.int) have been created.

The monitoring and control of communicable diseases are greatly facilitated by well-functioning surveillance systems. Surveillance systems provide information for the early detection of potential outbreaks, and help to identify disease trends, risk factors, and the need for interventions. They provide information for priority setting, planning, implementation and resource allocation for preventive programmes and for evaluating preventive programmes and control measures.

In responding to these various issues, the European Union network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases was established by Decision 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council and started work in 1999. The Communicable Diseases Network was set up to detect and control communicable disease in people regardless of the cause and manner of transmission. Its principal aim is to prevent further transmission of the disease to other people through epidemiological surveillance and investigation.