Data Sources and Outputs for the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System

This figure shows the data sources and outputs for the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS). Outbreaks are the primary data source for WBDOSS and are reported to CDC through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) by jurisdictional health authorities such as states and territories. Other data sources include aquatic facility-related health events not associated with recreational water, which are reported sporadically by jurisdictional health authorities; single water-associated cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (for example, Naegleria fowleri), chemical/toxin poisoning and wound infections (reported sporadically by some jurisdictional health authorities); and recreational water-associated Vibrio cases reported separately to the Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Surveillance (COVIS) system.

Data are analyzed and disseminated through periodic reports of waterborne disease outbreaks; biennial surveillance summaries, and other publications, data, and statistics in order to support efforts by public health researchers and policy makers to understand and reduce waterborne disease and outbreaks.