Surveillance for Early Detection of Disease Outbreaks at an Outdoor Mass Gathering Virginia 2005

This report details a sentinel disease surveillance system used to monitor injury and illness among more than 40,000 campers attending a 10-day event. The incidence of gastroenteritis was 22.2 per 1,000 (four clusters were discovered); nearly 15,000 heat-related events were recorded; and nearly 4,000 other injuries and illnesses were noted. These findings illustrate the importance and utility of health screening and surveillance at mass gatherings.