Tracking sales to help track diseases, bio-terrorism

The next time you go to the drug store to buy a bottle of Pepto-Bismol for relief just remember: Big brother may know what ails you.

Atlantic County health officials are using a new disease-tracking system that can help them more rapidly spot possible disease outbreaks or symptoms of bioterrorism.

The system uses Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance, or RODS, technology.

The Atlantic County Division of Public Health is using RODS to track over-the-counter sales of health-care products at some select area pharmacies. This allows health officials to watch for unusual patterns of health problems.

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