Highlight: Publication of the latest Health Surveillance Bulletin: 2012 report on the surveillance of Notifiable Diseases.

The system for notifiable diseases (NDs), dating back to the late 19th century, currently covers 31 diseases (29 infectious and 2 non-infectious). Its objectives are (i) to detect the onset of diseases with the potential to spread at an early stage in order to take action and limit the number of cases, and (ii) to measure and describe the evolution of diseases over time and across the country in order to adapt prevention measures. Thus, among the MDOs, there are infections requiring rapid intervention by regional or even national health authorities (meningococcal disease, foodborne illness, measles), as well as conditions for which epidemiological surveillance is necessary (HIV infections, mesothelioma). Reporting MDOs to health authorities is therefore an indispensable tool for epidemiology and public health. Since its effectiveness, responsiveness, and representativeness rely primarily on the participation of healthcare professionals, the Midi-Pyrénées Regional Health Agency (ARS) recently launched an awareness campaign targeting them. Among the 31 MDOs, 7 are predominantly present in Midi-Pyrénées (measles, tuberculosis, Legionnaires’ disease, invasive meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, foodborne outbreaks, and HIV infections) and are covered in detail in the latest health surveillance bulletin from the Cire Midi-Pyrénées, with the exception of tuberculosis, for which a special issue was published in March 2013. Enjoy reading!