e-Learning on Environmental Assessment of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Environmental health specialists play a critical role in understanding the environmental causes of specific foodborne illness outbreaks. But they do not investigate such outbreaks every day. Long periods of disuse can erode the knowledge and skills needed for outbreak investigations. Environmental health specialists and regulators need to be ready to conduct and participate effectively in environmental assessments of foodborne illness outbreaks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—with the help of Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) grantees, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture—developed an e-learning course to address this need. EHS-Net is a collaborative forum of local, state, and federal food program officials who work toward understanding the environmental causes of food and waterborne disease.

About the e-Learning Course

This course provides training on how to use a systems approach in foodborne-illness-outbreak environmental assessments (FIOEAs). Participants learn in-depth skills and knowledge required to

• Investigate foodborne illness outbreaks as a member of a larger outbreak response team.
• Identify an outbreak’s contributing factors and underlying factors (environmental antecedents).
• Recommend appropriate control measures.

The course consists of self-paced, interactive multimedia instruction delivered over the Internet. The e-learning course is free of charge to anyone with Internet access and a relatively low bandwidth connection (DSL or equivalent).

Module 1 teaches foundation skills required to conduct an FIOEA:

• Lesson 1: Your assignment.
• Lesson 2: Overview of FIOEAs.
• Lesson 3: Effective interviewing skills.
• Lesson 4: Observation and record review.
• Lesson 5: Sampling.
• Lesson 6: Critical thinking skills.
• Lesson 7: Organizing assessment information.
• Lesson 8: Control strategies and concluding actions.

The Module 1 skills are presented in the context of a simulated virtual classroom. The presenter is primarily an animated character representing an environmental health specialist skilled in outbreak investigations. At appropriate points, the course covers the need to consult with colleagues in epidemiology and in the laboratory. The training models the collaboration and teamwork that should characterize an outbreak investigation team. Module 1 can be completed in an estimated 10 to 12 hours.

Module 2 introduces the learner to a virtual environment in which to practice foundation skills:

• Lesson 1: Guided walkthrough of FIOEAs.
• Lesson 2: Independent practice with a local FIOEA.
• Lesson 3: Independent practice with a multi-jurisdictional FIOEA.
• Lesson 4: Independent practice with a national FIOEA.

Note: Module 2 will launch as funds become available.

When completed and fully deployed, the training can improve the ability of environmental health professionals to conduct FIOEAs and prevent future outbreaks.

The e-learning course is required before a state or local food safety program can participate in the CDC National Voluntary Environmental Assessment Information System (NVEAIS). NVEAIS captures environmental causes of foodborne illness outbreaks.

Access the Training

The e-learning course is expected to be launched in 2012. If you would like to be notified once the course is launched, send an email to NVEAIS@cdc.gov. Please provide the following information in your request:

• Name.
• Agency/Organization.
• Job Title.
• E-mail address.
• Phone number.

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