[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64900-64901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28604]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-04]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: A Survey of Veterinary Clinics to Assess 
Infection Control Practices and Use of Personal Protective Equipment to 
Reduce Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases--New--National Center for 
Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).
    Recent outbreaks of emerging zoonotic diseases in the United States 
have highlighted the need to better protect the veterinary community 
from infectious diseases by educating them about personal protective 
measures. In particular, during the recent 2003 outbreak of monkeypox 
in the United States associated with prairie dogs and imported rodents, 
veterinarians or veterinary staff represented over 25% of confirmed and 
probable human cases. During the height of this outbreak, health 
officials were tasked with providing information to the medical and 
veterinary communities to ensure safety when examining monkeypox-
infected patients; a lack of universally accepted infection control and 
personal protection guidelines within the veterinary community hampered 
the delivery of effective prevention messages to this vulnerable 
population.
    The proposed survey asks veterinarians about infection control 
procedures employed in their clinics and the use of personal protective 
equipment to prevent zoonotic disease transmission.
    The proposed study consists of a self-administered, written 
questionnaire

[[Page 64901]]

mailed to veterinary clinics in the United States. The American 
Veterinary Medical Association has volunteered to collaborate on the 
survey and will provide a list of clinics through their membership 
mailing list. The study objectives are to describe current knowledge, 
attitudes, and practices of veterinarians regarding zoonotic disease 
risks and protection of veterinary clinic staff, and to determine what 
types of national guidelines on infection control practices in 
veterinary settings are needed. There is no cost to respondents.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of     Average burden/
                 Respondents                     Number of        responses/      response (in     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent         hours)         (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written surveys.............................            5000                1            20/60             1667
                                                                                                ----------------
      Total.................................  ...............  ...............  ...............            1667
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Gaylon D. Morris,
M.P.Aff, Acting Executive Secretariat, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-28604 Filed 11-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P