The Office of Surveillance analyzes the economics of infectious diseases, assessing both the economic burden of disease as well as the costs and benefits of interventions. A wide range of methodologies are used, including the construction of mathematical models, the statistical analysis of existing datasets, and implementation of original experiments and surveys. Outcomes used to assess both the burden of disease and the value of intervention include dollars, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).

The Office of Surveillance works with all the divisions and branches within the National Center for Infectious Diseases. Analyses have been conducted, or are in progress, on a wide range of diseases and issues, including raccoon rabies, Lyme disease, pandemic influenza, dengue, pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, E. coli O157:H7 infection, toxoplasmosis, meningitis, the value of reduced use of antibiotics to reduce antimicrobial resistance, malaria, control of hospital-acquired infections, and the economics of planning and preparing for possible bioterrorist attacks.