Sentinel surveillance

Sentinel surveillance is a public health monitoring system that focuses on specific locations or groups, known as "sentinels," to track the occurrence of diseases or health events. Instead of trying to gather information from every single case, which can be overwhelming, sentinel surveillance targets certain hospitals, clinics, or communities that are representative of a larger population. This approach allows health officials to quickly identify trends, outbreaks, and patterns, enabling timely responses to public health threats while using fewer resources efficiently. It’s an effective way to manage and protect community health.