[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31328-31329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12345]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30DAY-32-00]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639-7090. Send written 
comments to CDC, Desk Officer; Human Resources and Housing Branch, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235; Washington, DC 20503. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    1. Emergency Epidemic Investigations--(0920-0008)--Extension--
Epidemiology Program Office (EPO)--One of the objectives of CDC's 
epidemic services is to provide for the prevention and control of 
epidemics and protect the population from public health crises such as 
man made or natural biological disasters and chemical emergencies. This 
is carried out, in part, by training investigators, maintaining 
laboratory capabilities for identifying potential problems, collecting 
and analyzing data, and recommending appropriate actions to protect the 
public's health. When state, local, or foreign health authorities 
request help in controlling an epidemic or solving other health 
problems, CDC dispatches skilled epidemiologists from the Epidemic 
Intelligence Service (EIS) to investigate and resolve the problem. 
Resolving public health problems rapidly ensures costs effective health 
care and enhances health promotion and disease prevention. Annually, 
the EIS Program coordinates 400 Epidemic Assistance Investigations 
(Epi-Aids) and state-based field investigations. Epidemics are 
prevented and controlled by mobilizing and deploying CDC staff, 
primarily EIS officers to respond rapidly to disease outbreaks and 
disaster situations. At the request of public health officials--at the 
state, national, or international level--CDC provides assistance by 
participating in epidemiologic field investigations. The purpose of the 
Emergency Epidemic Investigation surveillance is to collect data on the 
conditions surrounding and preceding the onset of a problem. The data 
must be collected in a timely fashion so that information can be used 
to develop prevention and control techniques, to interrupt disease 
transmission and to help identify the cause of an outbreak. Since the 
events necessitating the collections of information are of an emergency 
nature, most data collection is done by direct interview or written 
questionnaire and are one-time efforts related to a specific outbreak 
or circumstance. If during the emergency investigation, the need for 
further study is recognized, a project is designed and separate OMB 
clearance is required. Interviews are conducted to be as unobtrusive as 
possible and only the minimal information necessary is collected. The 
Emergency Epidemic Investigations is the principal source of data on 
outbreaks of infectious and noninfectious diseases, injuries, 
nutrition, environmental health and occupational problems.
    Each investigation does contribute to the general knowledge about a 
particular type of problem or emergency, so that data collections are 
designed taking into account similar situations in the past. Some 
questionnaires have been standardized, such as investigations of 
outbreaks aboard aircraft or cruise vessels.
    The Emergency Epidemic Investigations provides a range of data on 
the characteristics of outbreaks and those affected by them. Data 
collected include demographic characteristics, exposure to the 
causative agent(s), transmission patterns and severity of the outbreak 
on the affected population. These data, together with trend data, may 
be used to monitor the effects of change in the health care system, 
planning of health services, improving the availability of medical 
services and assessing the health status of the population.
    Users of the Emergency Epidemic Investigations data include, but 
are not limited to EIS Officers in investigating the patterns of 
disease or injury, investigating the level of risky

[[Page 31329]]

behaviors, identifying the causative agent and identifying the 
transmission of the condition and the impact of interventions.
    It is difficult to predict the number of epidemic investigations 
which might occur in any given year. The annual burden hours are 
estimated to be 3,000.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                 Respondents                     Number of        responses/      per response     Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent       (in hrs.)        (in hrs.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Respondents...........................          12,000                1            15/60            3,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: May 11, 2000.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-12345 Filed 5-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P