Division of Disease Control and Health Protection

"The reason for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on a disease is to control that disease. Collection and analysis should not be allowed to consume resources if action does not follow."

--Foege WH et al. Int. J of Epidemiology 1976; 5:29-37.

1. Teleconference Announcement: Introduction to the Merlin Web-based Reporting System
2. Annual Statewide Epidemiology Seminar to be Held October 5-6, 2000, Clearwater

3. Position Announcement: Field Epidemiology Supervisor, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology

4. Immunization Update: National Adult Immunization Awareness Week
5. Live Satellite Broadcast - Biological Warfare and Terrorism: Medical Issues and Response, September 26, 27, & 28, 2000
6. Florida Professionals in Infection Control: 25^th Annual Educational Conference, Orlando, September 14-16, 2000
7. Weekly Disease Table: Week 29

The Bureau of Epidemiology is pleased to announce that the next Annual Statewide Epidemiology Seminar will be held in Clearwater on October 5^th-6^th. The meeting will provide current information and education to health care professionals regarding the reporting, investigation, and control of communicable and non-infectious diseases of public health significance, with the focus of improving the health of Florida residents and visitors. The primary audience is county health department epidemiology and other related staff. Private physicians, practitioners, professionals in infection control, state and private laboratory staff, etc. are also welcome. Students enrolled in a public health program are also encouraged to participate in the annual seminar. The draft agenda for the seminar is attached. Additional information will be provided in the Epi Update and on the Bureau of Epidemiology web sites (Intranet and Internet) within the next three weeks.

The Florida Bureau of Epidemiology is recruiting for the position of Field Epidemiology Supervisor. This position, located in Tallahassee, supervises a recently created unit of regional epidemiologists providing epidemiological support to Florida’s 67 county health departments. Regional epidemiologists are located in Miami (University of Miami, (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health), Tampa (University of South Florida, College of Public Health), Orlando (Orange County Health Department), and Jacksonville (State Public Health Laboratory). The Field Epidemiology Supervisor will work with this highly trained group of epidemiologists (all have master’s degrees, 2 have PhDs) and county health departments in conducting investigations of a wide variety of public health problems and outbreaks.

With the largest subtropical population in the United States, Florida is a rich breeding ground for both the exotic and the ordinary. There are opportunities related to both old and emerging problems. This unit will provide consultation and field assistance to county health departments on surveillance methods and evaluation, outbreak investigation, study design, health planning and other epidemiologic and disease control topics. The supervisor will also function as regional epidemiologist for a relatively small area in the Florida Panhandle, as well as supervising the field epidemiologists and being a member of the management and scientific leadership team of the Bureau. The Bureau is rapidly growing, with expanding activities in tobacco control evaluation,

population-based surveys and surveillance, bioterrorism response planning, cancer

surveillance, hepatitis prevention and control, and injury epidemiology.

Interested persons should send a CV and cover letter to the address below. We will send you a state application form and an official announcement. Additional information may also be accessed on the Jobs DIRECT web site.

Steven Wiersma, M.D., M.P.H.

Deputy State Epidemiologist

Florida Department of Health

2585 Merchant's Row Blvd. (Street)

4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-12 (Mail)

Prather Building, Room 320H (HSDE)

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1720

Hank Janowski, Chief, Bureau of Immunization

October 8-14, 2000, has been designated National Adult Immunization Awareness Week. This annual event is organized to raise the awareness of public and private health care professionals regarding the need for adults (particularly those at high risk) to be immunized against influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. We are asking your help in spreading the immunization message.

Thousands of Americans still die each year from diseases that are easily prevented by safe and effective vaccines. In Florida, many high-risk individuals remain unprotected against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia--two diseases that together are the nation’s fifth leading cause of death for older adults. Countless others are threatened by hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

In order to build a well-immunized adult client population, medical providers should take advantage of routine physician visits and daily clinic opportunities to provide immunizations. Every adult visit should include an assessment of the client's immunization status, a discussion of their vaccine needs, and provision of the appropriate immunizations or referral to a health care provider as indicated.

The following three publications contain important information related to adult immunizations and are available on the Internet:

1. The Adult Immunization Schedule, based on recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), is located on their website.

2. A Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunizations can be found on the Immunization Action Coalition's Web site,  and

3. The Standards for Adult Immunization Practice, as established by the National Coalition for Adult Immunization is located on their website.

Bureau of Immunization field staff are also available to assist county health departments and other interested groups in promoting National Adult Immunization Awareness Week in local communities and the media.

In promoting National Adult Immunization Awareness Week, please be aware that due to a delayed supply of influenza vaccine for the upcoming flu season the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have issued adjunct recommendations beyond those made by the ACIP on April 14, 2000. The recommendations have been published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), July 14, 2000/ 49(27);619-622, under "Notice to Readers: Delayed Supply of Influenza Vaccine and Adjunct ACIP Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for the 2000-01 Influenza Season."

The recommendations are specific to the 2000-2001 influenza season and encourage immunization providers to:

• Delay organized vaccination campaigns (e.g., mass immunizations, special clinics) until November;
• Continue routine vaccination activities during regular health-care visits; and
• Develop provider-specific contingency plans in case a vaccine shortage should develop.

Concern over the potential use of biological weapons for warfare or terrorism has increased in recent years, due to knowledge about biological weapons programs in other countries, numerous recent bioterrorism threats, advances in molecular biology, and the ease of information dissemination through the Internet. Military and civilian medical and public health professionals must become proficient in the recognition and management of biological weapon casualties, and in notifying the appropriate agencies and personnel to respond to an event. This live, interactive, three-day satellite broadcast will inform and educate health professionals about the proper medical response n the event of an intentional biological agent release. World-renowned experts from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and other organizations will present this program at no charge.

The target audience is military and civilian medical care providers; public health professionals such as epidemiologists and laboratorians who are involved in disease surveillance and prevention; clinical laboratory staff and pharmacists; first responders and others who would assist in recognizing and managing casualties from a biological agent attack.

The satellite broadcast will take place September 26, 27, & 28,2000 from 12:30 – 4:30 PM ET (test signal from 12:00-12:30 PM ET). Individuals should register on-line at the web site. You will be able to review and choose from a list of viewing sites available in your state. You must confirm your registration at a specific viewing site by using e-mail or telephone information indicated by your site facilitator. If you do not have access to the Internet or can not complete your registration on-line, please call Mr. Rick Stevens at (301) 619-4880 (military callers may use the DSN prefix, 343-xxxx).

The FPIC 25^th Annual Conference will be held in Orlando September 14-16,2000. The Hyatt Regency Orlando International will serve as the conference site. The program is designed for Infection Control Professionals in all health care settings. Registration deadline is September 5, 2000. For additional information, please contact Dorothy Thomas.