The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47202

Liva Nohre, PhD, Division of Epidemiology and Data Services, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 1825 E. Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006, 602-506-6826, livanohre@mail.maricopa.gov and Sarah Santana, MPH, DrPH(ABD), Division of Epidemiology and Data Services, Maricopa County Department of Public Health Services, 1825 E. Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health implemented a temporary, real-time, web-based syndrome surveillance system. The purpose of the system, developed by the CDC for large event surveillance, was to detect unusual disease patterns that might indicate a bioterrorist event. The surveillance system was in effect while the World Series and NASCAR races were held in Phoenix (October/November 2001). Eleven selected hospitals in the greater Phoenix area participated in the surveillance. For each emergency room patient, hospital personnel recorded whether the patient attended the events and the patient’s syndrome, such as rash with fever, lymphadenitis with fever, or none of the surveyed syndromes. The CDC and the health departments downloaded data reports daily. Unusual syndromes and unusual clustering of a syndrome were investigated. Of the 37,157 emergency room patients, 83% were entered in the surveillance system. Of the completed records, 11% of the patients presented with one of the syndromes under surveillance. Seventy-two percent of the patients presented with none of the syndromes under surveillance. In 17% of the records, emergency room staff did not report syndrome information. Among those patients presenting with one of the syndromes under surveillance, 92% had gastrointestinal or respiratory syndromes. The remaining 18% presented with other syndromes (e.g., botulism-like syndrome, meningitis/encephalitis, or sepsis/non-traumatic shock). There were no indications of a bioterrorist event or outbreak during the surveillance period.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will a) be able to describe the temporary bioterrorism surveillance system that was used during the 2001 World Series in Phoenix, Arizona, and b) understand the outcome of the surveillance.

Keywords: Surveillance, Bioterrorism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.