Wisconsin's Premier Public Health Surveillance System Produces Large Numbers in Outbreak Reports

The feel-good, holiday video for the ages: Dr. Christopher
Olsen chats about Wisconsin's public health surveillance system
and Zoonotic disease research at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009. Outgoing Wisconsin
Republicans did not destroy these treasures. This is
cause to celebrate.

Madison, Wisconsin — As humanity contends with the 2018-19 flu season, there is a man-made system that should be hailed: Wisconsin's model public health surveillance program that alerts medical professionals and policymakers to disease threats like Legionnaires’ disease and the flu.

Wisconsin has the best statewide health surveillance, and it's no accident.

The state's public research and public health investments made over generations and spurred on by liberal, secular types at UW-Madison laid the scientific ground to establish a sophisticated public health system, notes Dr. Christopher Olsen, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, at a lecture in Madison in April 2009.

Flooding disasters across the nation this year likely has people here guessing about a causal relationship between recent Legionnaires’ disease cases in Madison and the catastrophic flooding in Madison — a worthy question that generates a reassuring answer.

There is no cause to jump the gun about this hypothetical health problem.

"Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires’ disease. The bacteria can also cause a less serious illness called Pontiac fever," the CDC notes. "People can get sick when they breathe in mist or accidentally swallow water into the lungs containing Legionella. Most people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. However, people 50 years or older, current or former smokers, and people with a weakened immune system or chronic disease are at increased risk."

The number of Wisconsin's reported cases of disease is always higher than the average state's because our health surveillance systems work better than most.

In June 2009, Wisconsin's H1N1 (Swine Flu) reported cases comprised 19 percent of all confirmed cases of the entire nation. Wisconsin is that good at identifying and reporting public health threats.

Outgoing Gov. Scott Walker (R) and the Republicans have not managed to destroy or degrade Wisconsin's health surveillance system.

But the Republicans did try to remove public service and the search for truth from the University of Wisconsin System mission, a mission that ultimately resulted in today's health surveillance system.

As the state is notified of health news, Wisconsin can be confident scientists and public health professionals work together in a high-minded ethical system to stay on top of health concern.

This state of affairs is an achievement of which Wisconsinites can be proud, no matter the senseless Republican Party's vandalism of the last eight years.