[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3684]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-04-28]


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-E11, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Active Surveillance of Ciguatera in Culebra, 
Puerto Rico--New--National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), 
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is a serious health threat to people 
in Puerto Rico. Many finfish that live in the island's coral reefs 
carry ciguatoxin. When people consume these finfish, they can get CFP, 
a condition that causes gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. To 
quantify the health burden caused by CFP, the local department of 
health tallies the number of cases of CFP reported by health care 
providers on the island. A recent evaluation of this passive 
surveillance system determined that the majority of CFP cases that 
occur on the island are missed. To accurately quantify the health 
threat of CFP to the population in Puerto Rico, the National Center for 
Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 
conjunction with the Puerto Rico Department of Health will conduct 
active surveillance for CFP for 12 months in Puerto Rico.
    Our active surveillance system will quantify the public health 
burden of CFP by determining the incidence, risk factors, and economic 
effect of CFP in Culebra, Puerto Rico. Every 4 months for 1 year, we 
will administer a questionnaire to each of the 600 households in 
Culebra. The questionnaire elicits information on household fish 
consumption and identifies individuals who have developed symptoms of 
CFP. When we identify individuals having symptoms compatible with CFP, 
we will administer a second questionnaire. This second questionnaire 
explores personal risk factors, medical management, and costs incurred 
while the individuals were ill with CFP. To confirm the presence of 
ciguatoxin in affected areas, we will collect fish from local reefs, 
fish vendors, and any appropriate leftover fish from people with CFP. 
The fish will be analyzed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
    Ultimately, the information provided by this study will aid the 
Puerto Rico Department of Health in controlling the health threat of 
CFP. Quantifying the incidence, risk factors, and economic burden of 
CFP will guide the development preventive strategies. There are no 
costs to respondents.

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Respondents                       Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)
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Household survey................................             600               3           20/60             600
Individual survey...............................             100               1           30/60              50
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             650
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    Dated: February 11, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-3684 Filed 2-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P