Epidemiological surveillance: a brief history and the experiences of the United States and the state of São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this narrative review was to list some historical aspects of epidemiological surveillance, a technological intervention model initially designed to help control communicable diseases in the last century. METHODS: This narrative was built based on texts selected to record the development of epidemiological surveillance in the United States and in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: The origins of some of the actions that constitute epidemiological surveillance activities are presented, as well as a brief history of the establishment of the originally named Center for Disease Control, a United States agency that is held up as an example in relation to the way surveillance has been performed, practically all over the world. Likewise, we outline the paths that led to the establishment of the surveillance system in the state of São Paulo, drawing some parallels with the Brazilian system. CONCLUSION: The narrative concludes with a conceptual differentiation between epidemiological surveillance, monitoring and health surveillance.