Abstract
Situational awareness(SA) is now a frequently used term in public health. As a rationale for syndromic surveillance, SA is rarely defined or described in clear operational terms: What is it? How is it measured? What are its outcomes? How can it be evaluated? This roundtable is intended to serve as a discussion forum on the meaning of SA in public health. The roundtable participants will work towards a consensus definition, measureable public health outcomes, and metrics for evaluation of syndromic surveillance for public health SA.