Which is NOT typically part of an infectious disease surveillance system in an operational environment?

• A. Syndromic and event-based surveillance
• B. Notifiable disease reporting
• C. Laboratory confirmation
• D. Genome sequencing of every case

Answer: (D)

Operational infectious disease surveillance draws on multiple data streams to detect and monitor activity quickly. Syndromic and event-based surveillance capture signals from symptoms and unusual patterns, often before a specific diagnosis is confirmed, providing early situational awareness for rapid response. Notifiable disease reporting ensures that certain diseases are mandatorily submitted to public health authorities, improving the completeness and timeliness of case counts. Laboratory confirmation supplies definitive evidence to classify true cases and guide interventions. Genome sequencing of every case, while valuable for understanding transmission and outbreak evolution, is not typically part of routine surveillance due to cost, turnaround time, and resource demands; sequencing is generally used selectively during outbreaks or for detailed genomic epidemiology studies rather than for day-to-day surveillance.