Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement Program
Funding Initiated In 1995

FY05 Funding April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006 - $1,332,974

Activities Proposed for FY 05

Antimicrobial Resistance, Food Safety, Hepatitis Prevention and Control, Influenza Surveillance and Response, National Electronic Disease Surveillance System, West Nile Virus, and General Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity

Key Performance Indicators

Antimicrobial Resistance

• The Active Surveillance Project will be considered effective if 80 percent of Massachusetts hospital laboratories are reporting by 12/31/05.
• The number of outpatient clinic sites submitting specimens for MMRSA testing increases, compared to previous years.
• MRSA isolates from at least three hospitals will be collected and tested.
• Analyze statewide antimicrobial resistance data; create power point presentation for seminar.
• Evaluation survey is developed by 11/30/05.

Food Safety

• During foodborne illness outbreak investigations, all the available environmental, epidemiological, and laboratory information has been obtained, outbreak reports are finalized by the WGFIC and distributed to appropriate parties within three months of the completion of the investigation.
• Continue reporting foodborne illness outbreaks via the EFORS system.
• All additional isolates requested by NARMS are submitted to NARMS.

Hepatitis Prevention and Control

• By 3/31/2006, at least 1,000 at risk clients will have been screened for hepatitis C via the comprehensive counseling and testing sites.
• By 3/31/2006, all existing viral hepatitis educational materials will have been assessed for their completeness and relevance and any out of date items will be updated and distributed.
• All case report forms received will be reviewed by an epidemiologist and data entered/scanned by ISIS staff.

Influenza Surveillance and Response

• The number of isolated confirmed and subtyped from other laboratories will increase by 20 percent.
• The number of sites and facilities submitting specimens for RSV rapid resting increases, compared to recent years.
• The number of viable specimens submitted will increase, compared to previous years.

National Electronic Disease Surveillance System

• A continued interaction within the Surveillance community will support the coalition.

West Nile Virus

• Targeted education, increased sample submission (avian and mosquito) and appropriate control measures will follow an increase in dead bird density in any area.
• Laboratory records are reviewed to confirm testing of arboviral negative neurologic specimens from animals that die or are put down for rabies.
• Risk of human disease is ascertained in a timely manner using available mosquito abundance and viral positively data and calculated MIR for indicator species.

General Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity

• The daylong training program is implemented in the fall of 2005 in 4-7 locations around the state. Evaluation forms will be analyzed and report written at the conclusion of the program.
• The Food-Handler Hand Washing Educational Project will be considered effective if the www.mass.gov/handwashing website has been updated.

Contact Information and Links

Pat Kludt, DPH
Division of Epidemiology and Immunization
MDPH
State Laboratory Institute
305 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Massachusetts's Department of Public Health: http://www.mass.gov/dph/