Syndromic surveillance is a public health practice that involves monitoring and analyzing data on symptoms or other indicators related to disease outbreaks or epidemics. This type of surveillance allows for early detection of potential health threats and can help public health officials respond more quickly to control and prevent the spread of disease. Syndromic surveillance often involves the use of data from sources such as emergency room visits, pharmacy sales, or school absenteeism to detect patterns that may indicate the presence of a contagious disease. By monitoring these trends and patterns, public health authorities can better understand and respond to potential health threats in a timely manner.