CDC estimates published in 2011better define the burden of foodborne disease in the United States. Roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick each year, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. Ongoing multi-state outbreaks and food/feed recalls provide powerful evidence that local, state, and federal agencies will be judged by their ability to mount a credible response to foodborne outbreaks and other food emergencies.
Multiple initiatives have been launched to help agencies improve outbreak response team capabilities. Examples include the Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response by the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR), National Voluntary Retail Food Program Standards, National Environmental Health association’s Epi-Ready Training Program, and the U.S. Food and Drug administration’s (FDA) Rapid Response Team (RRT) Pilot Project.
This presentation highlights some of the resources developed by the RRT Pilot Project that environmental health professionals can use to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their agency’s foodborne illness response team. The RRT Pilot Project is a series of multi-year cooperative agreements between FDA and nine states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The RRTs completed a nationally reviewed, seven-chapter manual of best practices in 2011. The manual shares concepts and tools that the RRTs found to be key to effective food/feed emergency responses. Chapter topics include multiagency coordination, training programs, multi-agency inspections, communication, food emergency response planning, traceback investigations, and the use of Incident Command System (ICS) concepts. Finally, this presentation will explore strategies that agencies can use for long-term sustainability of food emergency response capabilities during tight budget times.
This year the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) has added a new way to participate in the Call for Abstracts process for the Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. It is called, "Be a voice" and it gives you the opportunity to tell us what you’d like to experience at the AEC. Tell us topics you’d like to hear about and speakers you’d like to see. Review abstracts and provide input.
Help NEHA develop a training and education experience that continues to advance the proficiency of the environmental health profession AND helps create bottom line improvements for your organization!To search for specific abstracts, please use the search box located at the top left of the page (*next to the Blogger icon).
HELPFUL LINKS: How to Participate and Use this Blog | Disclosure | NEHA Blog Policy and Participation Guide
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO PARTICIPATE: Submit An Abstract | Suggest a Topic | Suggest a Speaker | Questions?
As a professional involved in emergency preparedness, response, & consequence management, we rarely discuss or plan for Food Emergency Response necessities. Of all the food EH lectures listed here, I can't wait to attend this one most.
ReplyDeleteI would love to attend this lecture at the NEHA 2012 AEC----Food Emergency and Response is a topic which needs to be given attention---especially at State and Local level health departments.
ReplyDeleteI would love to attend this lecture at the NEHA 2012 AEC----Food Emergency and Response is a topic which needs to be given attention---especially at State and Local level health departments.
ReplyDeleteimproving air quality