[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74539-74540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21117]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-07-0008]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and 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) 639-5960 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected]. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC 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)--Revision--Office of 
Workforce and Career Development (OWCD), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    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 objective 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 Epidemiologist Intelligence Service (EIS) to 
investigate and resolve the problem.
    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 to take into account similar situations in the past. Some 
questionnaires are 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.
    Epi Trip Reports are delivered to the state health agency official 
requesting assistance shortly after completion of the Emergency 
Epidemic Investigation. The official can comment on both the timeliness 
and the practical utility of the recommendations from the 
investigation. CDC is requesting that a new form be added to the 
current clearance. Upon completion of the Emergency Epidemic 
Investigation, requesting officials at the state or local health 
department will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire to assess

[[Page 74540]]

the promptness of the investigation and the usefulness of the 
recommendations.
    The total burden hours are 3,775. This slight increase over the 
last request for clearance is due to additional data that will be 
collected from the requesting state or local officials described above.
    Estimated Annualized Burden Table:

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                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
                           Respondents                              respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Public..................................................          15,000               1           15/60
State and Local Officials.......................................             100               1           15/60
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    Dated: December 6, 2006.
Joan F. Karr,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-21117 Filed 12-11-06; 8:45 am]
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