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The term "surveillance" is first used in a public health context.

1962

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SURV

The term is used for the first time in a public health context by Alexander D. Langmuir in the 72nd Shattuck Lecture to the Massachusetts Medical Society. Langmuir is the chief epidemiologist at the Communicable Disease Center, now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Langmuir used the term surveillance to refer to the importance of analysis and dissemination of data.