Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115802

Nadia Juzych, ScD¹, Beth A. Resnick, MPH², Robin Streeter, MS, MPH², Elizabeth J. Dederick, MA, MHS, PhD Stu³, Julie Herbstman, ScM⁴, and Thomas A. Burke, PhD, MPH². (1) Michigan Public Health Institute, 352 Baldwin, Birmingham, MI 48009, (2) Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N. Broadway, Room 484, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 484, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, Room E6640, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-9301, jherbstm@jhsph.edu

As environmental public health tracking efforts expand, clusters of non-communicable diseases will likely be identified. State and local public health agencies must be prepared to address questions from the public regarding the potential environmental etiology of the clusters. This study examined state public health agency capacity to address non-communicable disease clusters through a survey of state health agency web sites, and identified: protocols used to address disease clusters; disease endpoints investigated; and trends in state public health agency-led cluster studies. The study also evaluated the role of environmental public health tracking initiatives in supporting cluster investigations. Twenty-six states list a contact to address non-communicable disease clusters, with many of these only addressing cancer clusters. Twelve states indicate having a cluster response team and 14 specify the reporting protocol an individual should follow if a disease cluster is suspected. The disease endpoints that are investigated for potential clusters vary greatly from state-to-state. We found that most state agencies lack capacity and infrastructure to address non-communicable disease clusters and do not collect data necessary to identify potential disease clusters. These data and findings will be integrated with a telephone survey of public health agency personnel regarding their disease cluster investigation programs. Because environmental public health tracking can help to identify diseases with potential environmental etiology and therefore help prevent future cases, it is important to understand state capacity and limitations so that we can provide states the tools they need to improve their cluster investigations.

Learning Objectives:

1.Identify the capacity of state health agencies to address non-communicable disease clusters.
• Recognize the critical components of a non-communicable disease cluster program.
• Describe how environmental public health tracking can support disease cluster investigations.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation