Foodborne disease epidemiology capacity in the United States

CSTE plans to assess food safety epidemiology capacity in states and territories in 2010 given advances in public health surveillance technologies and the dramatic increase in national attention on food safety since the last assessment conducted in 2002. An updated Food Safety Epidemiology Capacity Survey will be distributed by CSTE to 50 states, eight territories, and the District of Columbia beginning in late winter 2010. Special emphasis will be placed on characterizing states' organizational infrastructure and activities in enteric/food borne disease surveillance and epidemiologic response, and an assessment of states' use of the indicators from the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak and Response's Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response. The resultant survey data will be evaluated and analyzed by a workgroup of CSTE and CDC epidemiologists with expertise in food borne illness working with an independent contractor. The 2010 food safety epidemiology capacity assessment will evaluate epidemiology and surveillance capacity for detection and investigation of food borne diseases in state and territorial health departments. A more comprehensive understanding of the current status of food safety epidemiology capacity in state health department may impact planned federal and state investments to improve public health infrastructure for detection and prevention of food borne illnesses. Findings of this assessment will also inform recommendations developed for optimal performance standards in staffing, surveillance infrastructure, investigative capabilities, organizational capacity, and legal authority for food safety related activities and encourage dissemination and use of the CIFOR Guidelines in state health departments.