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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Andrew Reich, MS, MSPH¹, Sharon Ketchen, MS¹, JoEllen DeThomasis, MPH¹, Dean Bodager, MPA, RS², George Jackow, MA³, Russ Melling, MPH⁴, Karen Steidinger, PhD⁵, Jan Landsberg, PhD⁵, Wayne Carmichael, PhD⁶, Barbara Kirkpatrick, EdD, RRT⁷, Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD⁸, and Lorraine C. Backer, PhD, MPH⁹. (1) Florida Department of Health, Aquatic Toxins Program, 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin A08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712, 850.245.4444 x 2295, andy_reich@doh.state.fl.us, (2) Florida Department of Health, Food and Waterborne Surveillance Program, 400 West Robinson, Hurston South, Suite S529, Orlando, FL 32801, (3) Brevard County Health Department, Environmental Health Program, 2575 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953-4147, (4) Lake County Health Department, Environmental Health Program, 315 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778, (5) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5095, (6) Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glen Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, (7) Mote Marine Laboratory, Environmental Health Program, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, (8) Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Rm 208-B, Highland Professional Building, Miami, FL 33136, (9) National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Studies Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS F-46, Chamblee, GA 30341

Recent high profile Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events have occurred in Florida including Florida red tide (Karenia brevis) , saxitoxin fish poisonings, ciguatera fish poisonings, and anecdotal reports of cyanobacteria-associated illnesses. During most of these events, there was no pre-planned response from local health departments, making it difficult to implement consistent and appropriate activities.

In late 2004, a Public Health Technical Panel was formed to develop broad recommendations for the composition of local HAB contingency plans. Representatives from selected county health departments (CHDs) were invited to participate in the development of generic response plans for each HAB which occurs in their jurisdiction. Representatives from state agencies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research institutes, universities, and consultants also participated. This county-based approach was initiated to gain insight into local experiences including available expertise, identification of important local governmental entities and advocacy groups, and challenges for implementation.

This presentation will describe the development of a public health model for an integrated HAB response plan incorporating public health and environmental monitoring activities. A model plan was created for each type of HAB and specific generic plans developed for each of the HABs in a modular format that comprise a User's Manual for CHDs. The Manual is used by CHDs to develop county-specific response plans reflecting local capabilities and limitations. This county-up approach ensures the integration of local to state to federal resources and responses to HABs which occur in Florida.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify four types of entities important to include when developing an integrated public health response plan for environmental threats;
• Describe necessary components in response plan development manual;
• Discuss advantages to including local public health entities in developing statewide HAB action plans

Keywords: Community Response,

Related Web page: dohswebeh0001/environment_dev/community/aquatic/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No