Keeping Public Health Surveillance Practice up to Speed: a Training Strategy to Build Capacity

Introduction Public health surveillance practice is evolving rapidly. In the past decade we have witnessed the globalization of health threats, the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases, and an explosion of easily accessible new technologies. This fluid environment challenges the public health community, but also provides it with a unique and fertile environment to innovate and improve its practice. As surveillance is a core function of public health practice, public health practitioners need to be well equipped to achieve this function and address present and future public health challenges. We developed a five day training course that focused on the practical use of surveillance concepts and principles in public health. We are sharing findings on the development of the course and learner outcomes.