Which data elements are most useful for disaster surveillance to guide decision-making?

• A. Weather patterns and traffic data.
• B. Case counts, locations, hospital admissions/ICU occupancy, lab results, and resource availability.
• C. Geographic mapping of population density.
• D. Physical security of facilities.

Answer: (B)

Disaster surveillance that guides decision-making relies on data that show the current burden of illness, where it is occurring, how severely the health system is being stressed, and what resources are actually available. Case counts reveal how many people are affected and, over time, indicate whether the situation is getting better or worse. Knowing locations helps identify hotspots so you can target responses where they’re most needed. Hospital admissions and ICU occupancy provide a direct read on capacity strain and help decide when to surge staffing, transfer patients, or expand care areas. Lab results confirm infections and, together with case counts, help interpret the true spread and testing effectiveness (for example, through positivity trends). Resource availability, including beds, ventilators, PPE, and staff, shows what can be done immediately and where gaps exist.

Other data like weather patterns and traffic data aren’t directly tied to monitoring illness burden or healthcare capacity in a way that informs immediate decisions. Geographic population density is useful for planning and modeling risk but doesn’t by itself reflect current system status. Physical security of facilities is important for safety, but it doesn’t provide the real‑time surveillance signals needed to guide response actions.