[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45823-45824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19685]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-59-03]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and

[[Page 45824]]

Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer at (404) 498-1210. Send written comments to CDC, Desk 
Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-6974. 
Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Emergency Epidemic Investigations (0920-0008)--Extension--
(Epidemiology Program Office, EPO)--One of the objectives of CDC's 
epidemic services is to provide for the prevention and control of 
epidemics and protect the population from public health crises such as 
man made or natural biological disasters and chemical emergencies. This 
is carried out, in part, by training investigators, maintaining 
laboratory capabilities for identifying potential problems, collecting 
and analyzing data, and recommending appropriate actions to protect the 
public's health. When state, local, or foreign health authorities 
request help in controlling an epidemic or solving other health 
problems, CDC dispatches skilled epidemiologists from the Epidemic 
Intelligence Service (EIS) to investigate and resolve the problem. 
Resolving public health problems rapidly ensures costs effective health 
care and enhances health promotion and disease prevention. Annually, 
the EIS Program coordinates 400 Epidemic Assistance Investigations 
(Epi-Aids) and state-based field investigations. Epidemics are 
prevented and controlled by mobilizing and deploying CDC staff, 
primarily EIS officers to respond rapidly to disease outbreaks and 
disaster situations. At the request of public health officials--at the 
state, national, or international level--CDC provides assistance by 
participating in epidemiologic field investigations.
    The purpose of the Emergency Epidemic Investigation surveillance is 
to collect data on the conditions surrounding and preceding the onset 
of a problem. The data must be collected in a timely fashion so that 
information can be used to develop prevention and control techniques, 
to interrupt disease transmission and to help identify the cause of an 
outbreak. Since the events necessitating the collections of information 
are of an emergency nature, most data collection is done by direct 
interview or written questionnaire and are one-time efforts related to 
a specific outbreak or circumstance. If during the emergency 
investigation, the need for further study is recognized, a project is 
designed and separate OMB clearance is required. Interviews are 
conducted to be as unobtrusive as possible and only the minimal 
information necessary is collected. The Emergency Epidemic 
Investigations is the principal source of data on outbreaks of 
infectious and noninfectious diseases, injuries, nutrition, 
environmental health and occupational problems.
    Each investigation does contribute to the general knowledge about a 
particular type of problem or emergency, so that data collections are 
designed taking into account similar situations in the past. Some 
questionnaires have been standardized, such as investigations of 
outbreaks aboard aircraft or cruise vessels.
    The Emergency Epidemic Investigations provides a range of data on 
the characteristics of outbreaks and those affected by them. Data 
collected include demographic characteristics, exposure to the 
causative agent(s), transmission patterns and severity of the outbreak 
on the affected population. These data, together with trend data, may 
be used to monitor the effects of change in the health care system, 
planning of health services, improving the availability of medical 
services and assessing the health status of the population.
    Users of the Emergency Epidemic Investigations data include, but 
are not limited to EIS Officers in investigating the patterns of 
disease or injury, investigating the level of risky behaviors, 
identifying the causative agent and identifying the transmission of the 
condition and the impact of interventions.
    It is difficult to predict the number of epidemic investigations 
which might occur in any given year. The previous three years' 
experience shows an annualized burden of 3,000 hours and respondent 
total of 12,000. For this clearance, we are requesting 3,750 total 
burden hours. This is due to the increase in the number of 
investigations performed over the past two years.

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                                                                                   Number of     Avg. burden per
                         Respondents                              Number of        responses/     response  (in
                                                                 respondents       respondent         hrs.)
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Total Respondents............................................          15,000                1            15/60
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    Dated: July 29, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 03-19685 Filed 8-1-03; 8:45 am]
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