Surveillance for diseases affecting pregnant people (SET-NET)
The SET-NET Program
The Washington State Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network Program (WA SET-NET Program) is a part of nationwide CDC Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET).
The program gathers information from Local Public Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) 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.
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 to streamline the data collection process.
Why is the program important?
The information SET-NET gathers help 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 emerging diseases quickly; and
- Ensure public health is ready and prepared to meet the needs of pregnant people and infants during emergencies.
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
- American Association of Pediatrics says Ten times as many babies born with syphilis in 2022 compared to 2012
- CDC declares Syphilis in babies reflects health system failures (Nov 7, 2023)
- Updates from CDC on Congenital Syphilis (Nov. 7, 2023)
- Hepatitis C
- CDC Hep C testing recommendations (Updated 2020)
- 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
- 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:- Minnesota added cCMV to their Newborn Screening Program in 2023.
- New York temporarily added cCMV to their Newborn Screening Program for 2023 and 2024.
- Utah has a state program to promote awareness and testing of cCMV.
- The following may be printed and shared with pregnant people, health care providers, and the community:
- COVID-19
UPDATE: SET-NET completed its 2020-2021 data collection about COVID in pregnant people in Washington and submitted it to the CDC. SET-NET will review 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 levels; there are currently no reported Zika outbreaks worldwide (Jan 2024).
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 that the privacy of people whose health information is collected is protected. SET-NET and the CDC do not release any data that could be used to 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, which include nationally notifiable case report forms, birth and death records, lab test results, and medical records.
The data collected includes information about:
- Mother’s age
- Mother’s race and ethnicity
- Mother’s 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
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. Just email us at pregnancyregistry@doh.wa.gov.