Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement Program
Funding Initiated In 2001

FY05 Funding April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006 - $767,340

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

• Up to date methodology and discussions will be covered at the annual CDC conference.

Food Safety

• Passively reported illnesses collected, investigate and transmitted to CDC via NETSS.
• Initiation of investigation within 24 hours of identification.
• Completion of written reports within one month of the completion of each outbreak investigation.
• The CDC foodborne outbreak form will be completed and data entered into EFORS within two weeks of identification of the outbreak. Summary of outbreaks produced annually.
• Information about proper collection and transport of specimens widely available through PHL website.
• The BAX system in routine use for surveillance and during outbreak investigations.
• Continue to submit isolates to CDC for antimicrobial susceptibility testing according to published submission charts.

Hepatitis Prevention and Control

• Conference for PCP's and training for HIV/STD clinics staff performed. Hepatitis C educational material developed and distributed.
• Continued availability of Hepatitis A and B vaccine for populations at risk.

Influenza Surveillance and Response

• At least ten sentinel providers continue to report weekly influenza surveillance data to CDC during summer months.
• Documentation of Influenza Alerts sent.
• Documentation by the Influenza Coordinator of the timely investigation of any unusual clusters of influenza like illness symptoms.
• Year round testing for influenza documented on spreadsheets that are provided to the VPDSC. Influenza testing data transmitted to CDC by PHLIS year round.
• No cost collection kits and transport of specimens encourage submission of influenza specimens by sentinel sites.

National Electronic Disease Surveillance System

• Documentation of system will be complete and available when system is online.

West Nile Virus

• Notes of meetings available for review and NH Arboviral Surveillance and Control Plan available for review.
• Successful implementation of emergency mosquito surveillance project. A timely development of the mosquito surveillance contract. Successful capture, identification, and Arboviral testing of mosquito pools.
• Accurate Surveillance information available to CDC via Arbonet in a timely manner.
• Testing of human specimens for WNV and other arbovirus performed in a timely manner to allow epidemiology to make decisions about prevention and control.
• Successful implementation of educational plan.

General Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity

• Routine use of PCR procedures for rapid detection of B. pertussis. Riboprinter validation complete and procedures incorporated into routine protocol for disease outbreak response and routine organism identification.
• Documented participation and sharing of acquired information with other epi and lab staff. Increased knowledge for participants and their co-workers. Improved teamwork between laboratory and epidemiology.

Contact Information and Links

Christine L. Bean, PhD, MBA
Laboratory Director
New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories 29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services—Public Health: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DPHS/