Protecting public health during drought conditions

"In April 2008, CDC, the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committed to collaboratively creating a guide for public health and other professionals concerned with the health implications of drought. Several key processes were employed over a period of months to help inform the writing of the drought document. CDC first conducted a review of the existing drought-related public health guidance, information, and literature, and identified a need for a consolidated drought planning resource for public health. A working group was then organized composed of both internal subject-matter experts and external experts representing diverse fields, including all levels of public health, environmental protection, and water-related sciences. Over the course of several months, the working group held a series of conference calls to discuss and prioritize the type of information that should be included in the proposed drought document, along with the appropriate format and structure. The research and consultations culminated in a 3-day workshop, which took place on September 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Public Health Effects of Drought Workshop was attended by experts from diverse disciplines, including federal, state, and local public health; environmental engineering and science; coastal ecology; regulatory engineering; water-related research; risk communication; water systems management; and emergency management (see Acknowledgments section for a list of participants and their affiliations). Participants were presented with several tasks during the 3-day meeting. They worked together through a computer-based communications/facilitation tool and engaged in discussions to identify and prioritize drought-related public health issues, identify research gaps and needs in the area of public health as it relates to drought, and develop recommendations to ensure that the nation's public health system is better prepared for drought. Workshop participants also shared personal experiences with drought within their regions, including lessons learned, best practices, and challenges. The recommendations contained within this document are based on the experience and knowledge of the working group members who participated in numerous conference calls, the experts who attended the 2008 Public Health Effects of Drought Workshop, and the literature and data that have been collected regarding the impact of drought on health. The document has been reviewed and vetted by CDC, AWWA, EPA, NOAA, and other stakeholder agencies and organizations, including the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH), and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)." - p. 13Acknowledgments -- Executive summary -- Introduction -- Background -- Drought basics. -- Water basics -- Water-related policy -- The impact of drought on health. -- Preparing for and responding to drought -- Response: public health activities for late-stage severe drought conditions -- Future needs: drought-related research and initiatives. -- Drought resources for public health professionals -- References -- Additional resources -- Appendix. Target audiences, communication objectives, and communication actions"CS214614-A."The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) would like to thank all agencies, organizations, and individuals who either assisted directly in or supported the development of When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions--A Guide for Public Health Professionals. In addition to CDC/NCEH, other primary agencies and organizations who coordinated the development of this guide are the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Special thanks are offered to members who participated in the Public Health Effects of Drought Workshop (facilitated by Brett Boston and Vern Herr of Group Solutions, Inc.) held in Atlanta in September 2008. Their expertise, input, and insight greatly contributed to the development of this guide. Other individuals offered recommendations, consultation, and advice through conference calls, in-person meetings, and document reviews.This guide reflects the commitment of many individuals who contributed their time, skills, and expertise to its development. Members of the CDC/NCEH project coordinating group include Rob Blake, Val Carlson, Katelyn Hardy, Martin Kalis, and CAPT Mark Miller.Ultimately, however, this guide could not have been developed without the expertise and patience of our technical writer/editor, Rachel Wilson. Ms. Wilson worked closely with the CDC/NCEH project coordination group to develop a draft version of the guide, prepare it for external review, and incorporate suggestions and revisions offered by key partners and stakeholders.Also avavailable via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (5MB, 56 p.).Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-44).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, and American Water Works Association. 2010. When every drop counts: protecting public health during drought conditions--a guide for public health professionals. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis: a paradigm for public health genetics policy development : proceedings of a 1997 workshop

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that can be detected in newborn infants (i.e., those aged < or = 1 month) by immunotrypsinogen testing. The sensitivity and specificity of such testing can now be improved as a result of the recent discovery of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulatory (CFTR) gene. Although limited CF screening for newborns has been used since the 1980s, the clinical, social, and economic outcomes of population-based screening are controversial. During January 1997, a workshop was convened at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss the benefits and risks associated with screening newborns for CF and to develop public health policy concerning such screening. The workshop planning committee comprised representatives from CDC, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Wisconsin. Experts in the fields of CF, public health, the screening of newborns, and economics also contributed to discussions. Workshop participants addressed a) benefits and risks, b) laboratory testing, and c) economics concerning the implementation of routine CF screening for newborns. Summaries of these discussions and the resulting workshop recommendations are presented in this report. These recommendations, developed by workshop participants, will be useful to medical and public health professionals and state policymakers who are evaluating the merits of population-based screening of newborns for CF.Introduction -- Background -- Workshop objectives and agenda -- Summary of plenary presentations -- Work group summaries and recommendations -- Overall workshop conclusions and recommendations -- Reference.December 12, 1997.The material in this report was prepared for publication by: National Center for Environmental Health.The following CDC staff members prepared this report: Joanne Cono, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; Noreen L. Qualls, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects; Muin J. Khoury, Office of Genetics and Disease Prevention; W. Harry Hannon, Division of Environmental Health Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health; in collaboration with Philip M. Farrell, School of Medicine, University of WisconsinIncludes bibliographical references (22-24)

Environmental public health tracking program: closing America's environmental public health gap, 2003

"Environmental public health tracking is the ongoing collection, integration, analysis, and interpretation of data about environmental hazards, exposure to environ mental hazards, and human health effects potentially related to exposure to environmental hazards. It includes dissemination of information learned from these data. The mission of environmental public health tracking_is to improve the health of communities. Using infor- mation from an environmental public health tracking network, federal, state, and local agencies will be better prepared to develop and evaluate effective public health actions to prevent or control chronic and acute diseases that can be linked to hazards in the environment. Health- care providers can provide better care and targeted preventive services. In addition, the public will have a better understanding of what is occurring in their communities and what actions they may take to protect or improve their health. CDC's goal is to develop a national network that will (1) be standards-based; (2) allow direct electronic data reporting and linkage within and across health effect, exposure, and hazard data; and (3) interoperate with other public health systems." - p. 1Caption title."March 2003"--p. 4."NCEH Pub No. 03-0051"--p. 4

Using tandem mass spectrometry for metabolic disease screening among newborns: a report of a Work Group

Increasingly, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is being used for newborn screening because this laboratory testing technology substantially increases the number of metabolic disorders that can be detected from dried blood-spot specimens. In June 2000, the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center, in collaboration with CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration, convened a workshop in San Antonio, Texas. Workshop participants examined programmatic concerns for health providers choosing to integrate MS/MS technology into their newborn screening activities. Representatives from approximately 50 public and private health agencies and universities participated in the workshop. The workshop participants and work group focused on laboratory methodology, decision criteria, quality assurance, diagnostic protocols, patient case management, and program evaluation for using MS/MS to analyze dried blood spots routinely collected from newborns. This work group report contains proposals for planning, operating, and evaluating MS/MS technology in newborn screening and maternal and child health programs. As a supplement to these proposals, this report contains synopses of selected presentations made at the 2000 workshop regarding integration of MS/MS technology into newborn screening programs. The proposals contained in this report should assist policymakers, program managers, and laboratorians in making informed decisions regarding the process of including MS/MS technology in their newborn screening and maternal and child health programs.Introduction -- Background -- Laboratory practice -- Newborn screening follow-up -- Diagnosis and treatment -- MS/MS screening evaluation -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix: Synopses of selected papers presented at the tandem Mass Spectometry for Metabolic Disease Screening Among Newborns Workshop, San Antonio, Texas, June 2000.April 13, 2001.The following CDC staff members prepared this report: W. Harry Hannon, Scott D. Grosse, National Center for Environmental Health.Includes bibliographical references (p. 21-22)

A Survey of the quality of water drawn from domestic wells in nine Midwest states

"Domestic wells, cisterns, or springs supply drinking water to eighteen percent of the households in the nine upper midwestern states. Many of these wells were in areas of the Missouri and Mississippi River basins that were flooded during the 1993 midwest flood. After the flood waters receded, many state and county sanitarians reported that water samples collected from domestic wells in the flooded river basins contained coliform bacteria. Since the nature and magnitude of this contamination was unknown, a survey was initiated to assess the presence of bacteria and chemicals in water drawn from domestic wells in the states that were severely affected by the flood. The survey was conducted in May to November of 1994 by state health and environmental departments of nine midwestern states with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because samples were collected one year after flooding and few of the sampled wells had preflood water quality results, the effect of this disturbance on the water quality of domestic wells could not be evaluated. Water samples were collected from 5520 households with domestic wells. These houses were near the intersections of a 10 mile grid overlaid on a map of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Samples were usually collected from the household faucet that was used to supply drinking water. Coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, nitrate, and atrazine were measured. The coliform bacteria and E. coli serve as indicators of contamination and their presence in water supply systems indicate an increased risk for diarrheal illnesses. Fertilizers and herbicides are intensely applied in rural areas of the Midwest, the location of most domestic wells. "[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health]."NCEH 97-0265."The 1994 Midwest Well Water Survey was funded by United States Public Health Service Office of Emergency Preparedness through the 1993 Midwest Flood Supplemental Appropriations