Surveillance for Diseases Affecting Pregnant People and Babies (SET-NET)

The SET-NET Program

The Washington State Surveillance for Emerging Threats to People and Babies Network Program (WA SET-NET Program) is a part of nationwide CDC Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Pregnant People and Babies Network (SET-NET).

The program gathers information from Local Public Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) and Tribes to determine how emerging diseases affect pregnant people and their infants in Washington State. This information is also shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to understand these impacts within the United States.

Which health conditions are monitored by the program?

The Washington SET-NET Program investigates the risk of new, emerging, remerging, and persistent diseases. We focus on health conditions that greatly impact fetus and newborn health outcomes. 

The program currently monitors:

​​​​​​Syphilis 

Hepatitis C

  • CDC Hep C testing recommendations (Updated 2023)
  • The CDC recommends one-time Hep C testing for:
    - All adults (over 18 years of age)
    - All children born to pregnant people with Hep C infection
  • The CDC recommends more frequent Hep C testing for:
    - All pregnant people during each pregnancy
    - Individuals who currently inject drugs and share needles
  • More on Hep C testing recommendations
  • DOH Hep C Hub

Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV)

According to the CDC, “Cytomegalovirus (pronounced sy-toe-MEG-a-low-vy-rus), or CMV, is a common virus that infects people of all ages. …When a baby is born with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, it is called congenital CMV. About one out of every 200 babies is born with congenital CMV infection. About 1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV infection will have long-term health problems.”

The Washington CMV Project promotes testing and education about cCMV in WA state. In the future, SET-NET may review Washington’s cCMV data.

Other states exploring how cCMV affects babies:

The following PDFs may be printed and shared with pregnant people, health care providers, and the community:

COVID-19

SET-NET submitted its completed 2020-2021 data collection about COVID in pregnant people in Washington to the CDC. SET-NET will use this information to learn about COVID’s impact on pregnant people in Washington.

Zika

Having Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause health problems for the unborn baby. Zika virus is spread by a specific mosquito. The CDC maintains a world map of countries showing current Zika risk level; there are currently no reported Zika outbreaks worldwide (June 2024).

Oropouche Virus

What are the goals of the program?

The WA SET-NET Program aims to:

  • Determine how emerging diseases, such as COVID-19, hepatitis C, zika virus, and syphilis affect pregnant people and their infants in Washington state.
  • Track birth defects, developmental problems, and other disabilities for children up to 3 years old.

This program works alongside LHJs and Tribes to streamline the data collection process. 

Why is the program important?

SET-NET gathers information that helps inform and create prevention and treatment guidance for pregnant people, their infants, and the healthcare providers who care for them.

 DOH and partners can use the data to:

  • Monitor and improve the health of pregnant people and infants;
  • Link families to medical and social services to get recommended care
  • Strengthen laboratory and clinical testing to find emerging diseases quickly
  • Ensure public health is ready and prepared to meet the needs of pregnant people and infants during emergencies.
Is the medical information that the program collects secure and protected?

Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) follows strict standards to ensure privacy and protect people’s health information. SET-NET and the CDC do not release any data that could identify someone. The medical information in the WA SET-NET program is protected by an Assurance of Confidentiality.

Where does the program gather information from?

Information is collected from existing records. Records include nationally notifiable case report forms, birth and death records, lab test results, and medical records.

The data collected includes information about:

  • Age
  • Race and ethnicity​
  • Health conditions before pregnancy (e.g., diabetes)
  • Alcohol and tobacco use​
  • Pregnancy complications​ (e.g., gestational diabetes)
  • Infant sex​, height, weight, and head circumference
  • Infant physical exam findings
  • Birth defects​
What resources are there for maternal mental health?

Department of Health resources:

Health Care Authority resources:

Ask us a Question

Do you have any questions about the WA SET-NET Program or any of the conditions discussed here? Email us at pregnancyregistry@doh.wa.gov, we are happy to help.

Do you have questions regarding your health risks during pregnancy? We suggest that you reach out to a healthcare provider. However, we can help direct you to resources that may be useful.