268626 Improving epidemiologic capacity for responding to radiological public health emergencies

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Colleen Martin, MSPH , National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA
Armin Ansari, PhD , National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA
Royal Law, MPH , Tkc, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Chamblee, GA
Andres Espinosa-Bode, MD , SciMetrika, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Chamblee, GA
Arthur Chang, MD, MS , National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA
Ellen Yard, PhD, MPH , National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA
Background: Following a radiological emergency, collecting data for epidemiologic investigations can enable public health officials to identify risk factors for internal contamination, describe the characteristics of the affected population, and provide context for direct radiation assessment and laboratory results. The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists' (CSTE) 2010 survey reported that only four (of 38) state health departments (HDs) had capabilities for applying epidemiology in radiological response. We aim to improve surveillance and tools from epidemiology for radiation preparedness.

Methods: We collaborated with the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and Thomson Reuters Micromedex to develop an improved coding system for tracking radiation exposure-related calls to US Poison Centers (PC); these data are electronically uploaded to the web-based National Poison Data System (NPDS) in near real time. We collaborated with CSTE to develop data collection tools and supported state and local HDs during exercised responses to radiological emergencies.

Results: During 2011, AAPCC implemented the new NPDS coding system, and we trained PC staff on its usage. NARR disseminated the questionnaire bank, which can be used to develop a customized data collection tool to obtain demographics, risk factor, radiation assessment, and health data, on their website. From 2009-2011, we worked with state HDs to collect data for epidemiologic investigations in the field during four population monitoring-focused exercises.

Conclusions: Surveillance system improvements and data collection tools may improve public health capacity to respond to a radiological emergency. Our next steps include providing training and technical assistance to interested state HDs.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Identify available tools for surveillance and epidemiology that can help states prepare for and respond to a radiological public health emergency Describe CDC training and technical assistance available for interested state health departments

Keywords: Radiation, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a epidemiologist with experience in environmental epidemiology. I have participated in previous radiation-related public health exercises.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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