The Outbreak Surveillance and Response Program provides the expertise needed to detect trends of acute and communicable disease and to respond to and control disease outbreaks. This program continuously monitors for new, emerging infections.
The activities of this program are statutorily mandated (AS 18.05.040) and often carried out in response to imminent threats to the public. Examples are infectious disease outbreaks or concerns about risk from environmental contaminants. Major areas of activity include measles and other vaccine preventable diseases, enteric diseases, botulism, rabies, paralytic shellfish poisoning, and foodborne and waterborne diseases.