[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 241 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64577-64578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27221]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-19-18AJJ]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of U.S. 
Large Animal Veterinarians Concerning Common Veterinary Infection 
Control Measures When Working with Animal Obstetric Cases to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously 
published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on July 20, 2018 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to 
the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days 
for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget

[[Page 64578]]

is particularly interested in comments that:

    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.

    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of U.S. Large Animal 
Veterinarians Concerning Common Veterinary Infection Control Measures 
When Working with Animal Obstetric Cases--New--National Center for 
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Veterinarians are particularly at risk of contracting zoonotic 
infectious diseases due to their close proximity to animals, especially 
during times of injury or illness. Some veterinarians may be unaware of 
recommended personal protection measures or opt not to participate in 
measures that would decrease their risk of contracting a zoonotic 
disease. In 1977, a survey conducted of 1182 veterinarians showed that 
approximately 43% of the respondents had contracted an infectious 
zoonotic disease. Today, this elevated zoonotic disease risk persists; 
the seroprevalence of Q fever in U.S. veterinarians is 22% and the 
seroprevalence of leptospirosis is 2.5%. Within the veterinary 
profession, large animal practitioners might have an increased risk of 
occupational exposure to infectious zoonotic diseases for many reasons, 
including decreased biosecurity measures available in the field and the 
limited space available on a mobile practice for personal protective 
equipment (PPE).
    The goals of this study are to describe veterinarians' knowledge of 
zoonotic infectious disease, identify veterinarians' attitudes towards 
zoonotic infectious disease and personal risk, and determine practices 
to decrease personal risk of infection. By identifying knowledge gaps 
in personal protective equipment (PPE) use, transmission risk factors, 
and disease identification/diagnosis, we aim to determine the best 
methods for education of veterinarians on relevant abortion-associated 
zoonotic infectious diseases.
    The purpose of this study is to better describe veterinarians' 
current knowledge of zoonotic diseases that cause abortion in large 
animals, determine common veterinary infection control practices when 
working up obstetric cases, and identify common barriers to PPE use. In 
order to develop effective messaging strategies, a deeper understanding 
of the attitudes and barriers to PPE use is needed.
    Information will be collected through a web-based ``Livestock 
abortion-associated zoonoses'' survey. The estimated burden per 
response is 15 minutes. Respondents will be veterinarians interested in 
bovine, small ruminant, or swine medicine. Collaborating veterinary 
specialty organizations will distribute announcements about the survey 
to their memberships along with a link to the electronic survey. CDC 
anticipates that data analysis will be conducted on approximately 500 
de-identified survey responses.
    Findings will be used to improve and enhance zoonotic disease 
education and PPE guidance targeted to veterinarians. OMB approval is 
requested for one year. Participation is voluntary and there are no 
costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated 
annualized burden hours are 125.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
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Veterinarian..........................  Livestock abortion-                  500               1           15/60
                                         associated zoonoses.
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Acting Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-27221 Filed 12-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P