The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74322

Celia Woodfill, PhD, Surveillance, Investigations, Research and Evaluation Section, Immunization Branch, California Department of Health Services, 2151 Berkeley Way, Room 712, Berkeley, CA 94704 - 1011, 510- 849- 5066, CWoodfil@dhs.ca.gov

Surveillance is a key component of the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) Smallpox Preparedness and Response Plan. This presentation will discuss implementation of the CDHS strategies for (1) enhancing the capacity of existing surveillance systems to detect vesicular rashes and to rule out smallpox and (2) strengthening the existing public infrastructure for outbreak response and control with a focus on smallpox surveillance and surveillance of smallpox vaccination adverse events. Strategies for enhancing the capacity of existing surveillance systems to detect vesicular rashes and to respond to possible cases of smallpox include (1) developing a statewide vesicular rash network of local and regional clinicians, epidemiologists and public and private laboratories to facilitate the rapid diagnosis of patients with acute generalized vesicular or pustular rash, (2) educating healthcare providers to evaluate patients for smallpox, (3) strengthening laboratory capacity to rule out smallpox, (4) improving disease reporting, (5) developing a system for responding to reports of possible cases of smallpox (e.g., rash illness response and investigation protocols), and (6) training public health staff in surveillance and epidemiologic investigation and response. Strategies for strengthening the existing public health infrastructure for outbreak response and control include (1) creating a system for managing and monitoring smallpox prevention and control activities (e.g., case reporting; contact identification, tracing, vaccination and monitoring; vaccination take monitoring; and adverse events surveillance), (2) assessing the adequacy of the public health response to public health emergencies, and (3) training (e.g., table top exercises).

Learning Objectives:

• Descibe components and methods for surveillance of smallpox and adverse events after smallpox vaccine (vaccinia) from a state perspective.
• Discuss a state's strategies for enhancing surveilance for pre-event and post-event smallpox surveillance.
• Discuss a state's strategies for strenghtening the public health infrasturucture for outbreak response and control of smallpox.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.