Epi-Aids and Field Investigations
Epi-Aids are requests for epidemiological assistance within the United States and throughout the world. Requests to assist with emergency responses, investigate infectious and environmental disease outbreaks, and quantify impact of diseases are examples of Epi-Aid responses.
These are examples of NCEH EIS officers’ Epi-Aids and field investigations.
2017
- Undetermined risk factors for invasive mold infections among immunocompromised residents in flood-affected areas — Houston Metropolitan Area, Texas, 2017
- Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) addressing the ongoing response to Zika virus – U.S. Virgin Islands, 2017
- Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) addressing Oregon drought conditions – Crook County, Oregon, 2017
2016
- Evaluation of Oklahoma’s Electronic Death Registration System for Mortality Surveillance
- Epidemiology support for Spokane Tribe assessment of private well water – Wellpinit, WA, 2016
- Zika surveillance for the US Zika Pregnancy Registry – American Samoa, November 2016
- Investigation of high levels of lead in drinking water – Flint Michigan, February, 2016
- Improvement of water, sanitation, and hygiene during a cholera outbreak –Tanzania, February, 2016
- Community Assessment of Disaster Response and Health Effects after Flooding – West Virginia, August, 2016
- Undetermined risk factors for asthma-related healthcare utilization – Puerto Rico, August, 2016
2016 NCEH EISO Nanda Issa arrives in USVI to perform a CASPER
Lilliane Lewis, MD (EIS’15) and Emilio Dirlikov, PhD (EIS’15) in Puerto Rico
Dr. Benjamin Bolanos at the San Juan Allergen Bureau Station
Alice Wang, PhD (EIS ’15) in Tanzania.
2014
- Investigation of Ebola Virus Disease – Ohio, October, 2014
- Investigation of Ebola Virus Disease Importation – Texas, October, 2014
- Undetermined risk for childhood lead poisoning in the area surrounding a former lead paint production facility. – Pennsylvania, July, 2014
- Undetermined burden of disease and risk factors for chikungunya virus infections – Puerto Rico, June, 2014
- Investigation of Asthma-Related ER visits – Utah, May, 2014
- Undetermined risk factors and mode of transmission in a Healthcare-Associated Legionnares’ Disease Outbreak – Alabama, May, 2014
- Undetermined source for a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with a resort – Georgia, March, 2014
Amy (Amelia) Kasper MD, MPH (EIS ’14) interviews cases in Mozambique.
2013
- Medical chart review and hospital survey after the Elk River chemical spill – West Virginia, January, 2013
- Impact of Drought Conditions on Private Well Owners — Multistate, March, 2013
- Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) for Rapid Identification of Disaster Response and Recovery Needs of Communities Affected by the Elk River Chemical Spill – West Virginia, April, 2013
- Investigation of fatal opiate-related overdoses — Rhode Island, May, 2013
- Investigation of NICU deaths in Hospital A — Panama, July, 2013
- An epidemiologic and environmental investigation of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with a family reunion – Georgia, August, 2013
- Steroid contamination of nutritional supplements – New York, August 2013
- Investigation of a fatal, unknown, psychoactive substance-related intoxication – Colorado, September, 2013
- Acute Hepatitis and Liver Failure Following Use of a Dietary Supplement – Multistate, October, 2013
- Investigation of new cases of liver disease to characterize the outbreak, identify risk factors for illness, and assess exposure to PAs from food grains. – Ethiopia, November, 2013
Ethan Fechter-Leggett, DVM (EIS ’13) and Sherry Burrer, DVM (EIS ’08) collecting surveys from volunteers during a CASPER in Elk River Chemical spill, West Virginia.
2012
- Polio surveillance rapid field assessment — Kenya, January, 2012
- Acceptance and understanding of National Weather Service NWS winter weather warnings — North Dakota, April, 2012
- Evaluation of the impact of adult mosquito control during a West Nile virus outbreak — Texas, August 2012
- Community preparedness for emergencies — Michigan, Spetember, 2012
- Community health effects of mercaptan exposure — Alabama, September, 2012
- Clinical Characterization of Case-Patients Identified as Part of an Outbreak of Fungal Infections Associated with Medications — Indiana, Virginia, October, 2012
- Shelter Surveillance post Hurricane Sandy — New Jersey, November, 2012
- Community experiences and perceptions of geothermal venting and emergency preparedness — California, November, 2012
- Investigation after vinyl chloride release from a train derailment — New Jersey, December, 2012
Bryan Christensen, PhD (EIS ’10) (left) and Matthew Lozier, PhD (EIS’12) sample for hydrogen sulfide and methane in a community where geothermal venting releases these gases into the air. This was done as part of a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER).
2011
- The body burden of environmental contaminants in a vulnerable population — Ethiopia, June, 2011
- Evaluation of dogs as sentinels for human risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in an emergent area — Arizona, October, 2011
- Elevated radiation exposure in patients following Rubidium-82 cardiac imaging scans — Alabama, Florida, Nevada, New York, November, 2011
- Risk Assessment for Rabies PEP Following Exposure to a Bat on an Airplane — Wisconsin, August, 2011
- Chlorine Gas Exposure at a Poultry Processing Plant — Arkansas, June, 2011
- Heat-related Illness Among Migrant Farmworker Populations — Southern Georgia, June, 2011
- Investigation of a Liver Disease of Unknown Etiology — Tigray, Ethiopia, March, 2011
Danielle Buttke, DVM, PhD (EIS ’10) analyzing samples in Ethiopia
Ekta Choudhary, PhD (EIS ’09) in American Samoa following the 2010 CASPER
Nancy Fleischer, PhD (EIS ’10) collecting a water sample in Alaska