The need for global risk factor surveillance
- Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, PL no 1918C3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
- Surveillance, Noncommunicable Disease and Mental Health, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA Correspondence to: Dr B C K Choi (Bernard_Choi@hc-sc.gc.ca)
- Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, PL no 1918C3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
- Surveillance, Noncommunicable Disease and Mental Health, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA Correspondence to: Dr B C K Choi (Bernard_Choi@hc-sc.gc.ca)
- Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, PL no 1918C3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0K9
- Surveillance, Noncommunicable Disease and Mental Health, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA Correspondence to: Dr B C K Choi (Bernard_Choi@hc-sc.gc.ca)
In the past millennium, infectious diseases, from the plagues in the 14th century to HIV in the 20th century, were spread by international travellers by land, sea, and air. Because of infectious epidemics, global infectious disease surveillance is now in place; outbreaks of infectious diseases in one country are quickly notified to other countries. By comparison, chronic diseases, not being infectious, do not require the same immediate alert and control mechanisms. Global chronic disease surveillance therefore ranks lower in the …
