Computerised surveillance of communicable diseases in France.

The French National Department of Health and National Institute of Health and Medical Research decided to develop a powerful, computerised, national information system in order to improve the surveillance of communicable disease in France. The French Communicable Diseases Computer Network (FCDN), which went into operation in 1984, allows for the collection and dissemination of data on seven communicable diseases. The epidemiological database is updated by 500 sentinel general practitioners using home terminals. Data on notifiable diseases are submitted to the National Department of Health by the departmental health offices via FCDN.