1. Basic Surveillance: They provide the simplest form of data for public health surveillance, allowing health authorities to monitor the occurrence of diseases. 2. Resource Allocation: Counts help in determining the allocation of resources by identifying areas with higher needs for medical services, vaccines, or interventions. 3. Trend Identification: By collecting and analyzing counts over time, epidemiologists can identify trends and patterns, which is essential for predicting future outbreaks and planning preventive measures.