[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27317-27319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9279]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-07-0007]


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 404-639-5960 or 
send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar, Acting, CDC Assistant Reports 
Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send 
an e-mail to [email protected].
    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

[[Page 27318]]

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. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Weekly and Annual Morbidity and Mortality Reports, 0920-0007-
Extension--National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM), Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responsible 
for the collection and dissemination of nationally notifiable diseases' 
information and for monitoring and reporting the impact of epidemic 
influenza on mortality, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241).
    In 1878, Congress authorized the U.S. Marine Hospital Service 
(later renamed the U.S. Public Health Service) to collect morbidity 
reports on cholera, smallpox, plague, and yellow fever from U.S. 
consuls overseas; this information was to be used for instituting 
quarantine measures to prevent the introduction and spread of these 
diseases into the United States. In 1879, a specific Congressional 
appropriation was made for the collection and publication of reports of 
these notifiable diseases. Congress expanded the authority for weekly 
reporting and publication in 1893 to include data from state and 
municipal authorities throughout the United States. To increase the 
uniformity of the data, Congress enacted a law in 1902 directing the 
Surgeon General of the Public Health Service (PHS) to provide forms for 
the collection and compilation of data and for the publication of 
reports at the national level.
    Reports on notifiable diseases were received from very few states 
and cities prior to 1900, but gradually more states submitted monthly 
and annual summaries. In 1912, state and territorial health 
authorities--in conjunction with PHS--recommended immediate telegraphic 
reports of five diseases and monthly reporting by letter of 10 
additional diseases, but it was not until after 1925 that all states 
reported regularly. In 1942, the collection, compilation, and 
publication of morbidity statistics, under the direction of the 
Division of Sanitary Reports and Statistics, PHS, was transferred to 
the Division of Public Health Methods, PHS.
    A PHS study in 1948 led to a revision of the morbidity reporting 
procedures, and in 1949 morbidity reporting activities were transferred 
to the National Office of Vital Statistics. Another committee in PHS 
presented a revised plan to the Association of State and Territorial 
Health Officers (ASTHO) at its meeting in Washington, DC, October 1950. 
ASTHO authorized a Conference of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 
(CSTE) for the purpose of determining the diseases that should be 
reported by the states to PHS. Beginning in 1951, national meetings of 
CSTE were held every two years until 1974, then annually thereafter.
    In 1961, responsibility for the collection of data on nationally 
notifiable diseases and deaths in 122 U.S. cities was transferred from 
the National Office of Vital Statistics to CDC. For over 40 years the 
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has consistently served as 
the CDC premier communication channel for disease outbreaks and trends 
in health and health behavior. The data collected for publication in 
the MMWR provides information which CDC and State epidemiologists use 
to detail and more effectively interrupt outbreaks. Reporting also 
provides the timely information needed to measure and demonstrate the 
impact of changed immunization laws or a new therapeutic measure. Users 
of data include, but are not limited to, congressional offices, state 
and local health agencies, health care providers, and other health 
related groups.
    The dissemination of public health information is accomplished 
through the MMWR series of publications. The publications consist of 
the MMWR, the CDC Surveillance Summaries, the Recommendations and 
Reports, and the Annual Summary of Notifiable Diseases.
    There are no costs to respondents except their time to participate 
in the survey.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents    responses per    respondent      (in hours)
                                                                    respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Weekly Morbidity Report Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
States..........................................              50              52               1            2600
Territories.....................................               4              52               1             208
                                                               1              52           30/60              26
Cities..........................................               2              52               1             104
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals...................................              57  ..............  ..............            2938
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                               CDC 43.5 Weekly Mortality Report Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City health officers or vital statistics                     122              52           12/60            1269
 registrars.....................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Summary Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
States..........................................              50               1              14             700
Territories.....................................               5               1              14              70
Cities..........................................               2               1              14              28
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals...................................  ..............  ..............  ..............             798
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..................................             179  ..............  ..............           5803
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* Reports.



[[Page 27319]]

    Dated: May 7, 2007.
Maryam I. Daneshvar,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E7-9279 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P