Live Demo of CDC's Harmful Algal Bloom Illness-related Surveillance System

The extent of human illness caused by environmental exposure to algal toxins in drinking and recreational waters is unknown. There are no U.S. federal regulations, and no official guidance from the EPA specifying allowable concentrations of HAB-related toxins in the water.  In response to the need to support public health decision-making, NCEH has developed a Harmful Algal Bloom-related Illness Surveillance System (HABISS).  It is a unique surveillance system that includes the collection of not only human health data, but data from animals made ill by exposure to HABs and environmental data about the HABs themselves.  Data collection is organized in a modular format that can easily be adapted to state and local needs.  State health agencies are particularly interested in using this database to predict future blooms, thus allowing public health prevention activities to be in place in advance of anticipated public health problems.  The system operates on a secure platform, the Rapid Data Collector (RDC), which was engineered specifically for survey design and data collection.  A live demonstration of the system will allow viewers to see a multi-faceted approach to developing a flexible and needs-based surveillance model.

HABISS Partners include:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• Olympic Harmful Algal Bloom Program (ORHAB) in Washington State

• Public Health Information Network (PHIN),

• American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC)

• Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS)

• Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP)

• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• Other state and international partners