Surveillance Network

Surveillance network is collaborative network to detect a public health events (foodborne outbreaks) related to the U.S. food supply

• PulseNet helps detect possible outbreaks.
• OutbreakNet helps investigate and report outbreaks.
• FoodNet tracks general trends and define where more effective prevention strategies are required.
• EHS-Net assists state health departments in their efforts to improve the practice of environmental health service programs.
• Other collaborative Efforts with Food Safety Partners

PulseNet

Large multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157 infections in the Western United States at Jack-in-the-Box restaurants in 1993 led to development of PulseNet, the national network for molecular subtyping of foodborne bacteria.

• Developed in collaboration with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
• Coordinated by the CDC
• Participating laboratories include state health departments, some local health departments, USDA, and FDA
• Goal: Help prevent future severe outbreaks by enabling rapid comparison of bacteria isolated from ill persons around the country

OutbreakNet

• Composed of state and CDC epidemiologists who regularly investigate and report on outbreaks
• Use standardized interview methods and forms and rapidly share their investigation data
• Outbreaks can be investigated in a matter of days rather than weeks
• Allows the CDC to more rapidly alert the FDA and USDA about implicated food products associated with foodborne illness so that the three agencies can work collaboratively to protect public health

FoodNet

CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet)

• is collaborative effort among ten state health departments, the USDA, and FDA
• closely monitors the human health burden of foodborne diseases in the United States
  conducts active surveillance for foodborne diseases
• conducts epidemiologic studies that examine sporadic and outbreak foodborne infections to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases in the United States and how to most effectively target prevention strategies
• produces reliable estimates of the burden and trends over time for foodborne infections of public health importance

EHS-Net

Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net)

• established in 2000 as a collaborative effort between the FDA and eight states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Tennessee)
• works to identify and prevent environmental factors contributing to foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks
• has been effective in determining policies and practices of retail food service establishments associated with foodborne outbreaks
• examines policies and practices of retail food service establishments in handling specific foods that have been associated with past foodborne outbreaks

Other collaborative Efforts with Food Safety Partners

Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response

• is created to assist in development of model programs and processes that will help the investigation and control of foodborne disease outbreaks
• Duties includes
  • improving the performance and coordination of relevant local, state, and federal public health agencies involved in epidemiology, environmental health, laboratory sciences, and regulatory affairs
  • developing multi-state outbreak guidelines, a repository for resources and tools, and performance measures for response to enteric illness

Council of Association Presidents

• composed of the ten leading public health, veterinary, and food safety associations that work the spectrum of food safety and food defense, from animal feed to human health
• Duties include
  • integrating the food safety and food defense efforts of Federal, state, and local public health, veterinary and food safety officials is of critical importance
  • developing and implementing integrated efforts, providing needed training, and building the multi-disciplinary capacity necessary to address food-related emergencies