Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Which statement about surveillance is NOT true?

1. Surveillance is ongoing and systematic

2. Active surveillance looks for reports of illness

3. Passive surveillance requires actively searching for illness reports

4. In passive surveillance, there is reliance on receiving reports

The correct answer is: Passive surveillance requires actively searching for illness reports

Surveillance in the context of food safety is crucial for monitoring and responding to health threats. Understanding the types of surveillance helps clarify why the statement about passive surveillance requiring active search is not true. Surveillance can be divided into two primary categories: active and passive. In active surveillance, health authorities proactively seek out information and reports of illnesses, which includes contacting healthcare providers or facilities to encourage them to report cases. This approach is focused on gathering comprehensive data to identify outbreaks or trends promptly. In contrast, passive surveillance relies on the voluntary reporting of illness from healthcare providers and laboratories. This method does not involve active search efforts; instead, it depends on the existing systems where reports of illnesses are submitted to health authorities as they occur. This means that passive surveillance can often lead to underreporting because not all cases may be reported. The incorrect statement describes passive surveillance inaccurately by suggesting that it requires active searching for illness reports, which contradicts the very nature of passive surveillance. Thus, the correct understanding of surveillance types helps in implementing effective health monitoring strategies and addressing public health concerns efficiently.