Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) was organized in the USA in the early 1950s in response to the need to have at least one person in each state and territory responsible for public health surveillance of diseases and conditions of public health significance. Since then, CSTE has grown to include members from every U.S. state and territory, Canada, and Great Britain.

The surveillance and epidemiology of infectious diseases, chronic diseases and conditions, and environmental health concerns are priority areas for CSTE. Members serve as special topic consultants for a broad range of public health concerns such as HIV/AIDS and vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vision Statement

 * The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists is committed to improving the public's health by supporting the efforts of epidemiologists working at the state and local level to influence public health programs and policy based on science and data.

Mission statement

 * CSTE promotes the effective use of epidemiologic data to guide public health practice and improve health. CSTE accomplishes this by supporting the use of effective public health surveillance and good epidemiologic practice through training, capacity development, and peer consultation, developing standards for practice, and advocating for resources and scientifically based policy.

CSTE has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Case Definitions for Public Health Surveillance and Chronic Disease Indicators.