Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control108271202640869Research ArticleCosts and benefits of a subtype-specific surveillance system for identifying Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks.ElbashaE. H.ebe4@cdc.govFitzsimmonsT. D.MeltzerM. I.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.May-Jun200063293297

We assessed the societal costs and benefits of a subtype-specific surveillance system for identifying outbreak-associated Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. Using data from Colorado, we estimated that if it averted five cases annually, the system would recover all its costs.