[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 53791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25621]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Docket No. 95N-0281]


``Proceedings of the 1994 Vibrio Vulnificus Workshop;'' 
Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability of ``Proceedings of the 1994 Vibrio vulnificus Workshop.'' 
The workshop was a scientific forum that was cosponsored by FDA, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Interstate Shellfish 
Sanitation Conference (ISSC) to: Review the current information 
available on the epidemiology, ecology, and pathogenicity of Vibrio 
vulnificus, as well as industry practices affecting the levels of this 
pathogen in seawater and shellfish, ongoing educational efforts, and 
other related technical information obtained since the last Vibrio 
vulnificus workshop, held in March 1988; identify further critical 
information needs; and identify the kind of research that will best 
address these needs using available government and nongovernment 
resources most effectively.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for single copies of ``Proceedings 
of the 1994 Vibrio vulnificus Workshop'' to the Program and Enforcement 
Branch, Office of Seafood (HFS-417), Food and Drug Administration, 200 
C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204. Requests should be identified with the 
docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Send 
two self-addressed adhesive labels to assist that office in processing 
your requests. ``Proceedings of the 1994 Vibrio vulnificus Workshop'' 
is available for public examination in the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, rm. 1-23, 12420 Parklawn Dr., 
Rockville, MD 20875, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette B. Lyon, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Seafood (HFS-417), 200 C St. 
SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-418-3177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally-occurring 
marine bacterium which has been associated with human illness and death 
from the consumption of raw shellfish, primarily raw oysters. Federal 
and State government agencies, the ISSC, academia, and the shellfish 
industry have been monitoring these illnesses and deaths and have 
focused their research efforts on the development of effective controls 
to prevent Vibrio vulnificus-related illnesses from the consumption of 
shellfish. In 1988, a jointly sponsored Vibrio vulnificus workshop was 
held in Washington, DC, to identify the current state of knowledge and 
research needs at that time.
     At the 1994 workshop, experts were invited to present scientific 
and technical updates on the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and ecology 
of Vibrio vulnificus; the effects of time-temperature factors on 
outgrowth; depuration, irradiation, and other intervening control 
measures; and the use and effectiveness of consumer education and 
health advisories. In addition to the invited speakers and 
representatives of the sponsors, other attendees included state public 
health officials, industry, consumer representatives, epidemiologists, 
and researchers. The workshop concluded with several panel discussions 
during which panel members discussed their views on unresolved 
information and research needs and mechanisms by which these might be 
attained.
    -A draft of the proceedings was published and distributed to the 
participants for comment in August, 1994. The current publication 
incorporates their comments.

    Dated: September 28, 1995.
Fred R. Shank,
Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
[FR Doc. 95-25621 Filed 10-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F