Surveillance Systems for Biologic and other Events

April 14, 2003

With Dr. Anita Barry, MD, MPH

Program Description:
The potential threat of biological agents has become all too real since the anthrax events in the fall of 2001. Now more than ever, public health professionals must be vigilant in detecting biological agents promptly. Dr. Anita Barry, who serves as Director of the Communicable Disease Control Division of the Boston Public Health Commission, will address the critical role that surveillance systems, particularly volume based surveillance, play in public health today.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Explain the role of surveillance systems in public health today.
2. Define the terms volume based and syndromic surveillance and describe how they are currently being used in public health.
3. Identify potential shortcomings of our current surveillance systems in identifying a biological agent.

Who Should Attend:
State, county and local public health staff involved in communicable disease surveillance, epidemiology, terrorism preparedness and community disaster response planning; hospital and health care staff involved in infectious disease tracking, control and treatment; interested members of the print and broadcast media. The session is open to the public.

When:
Thursday, April 14, 2003
9:00 - 10:00 am EST

Local site:
University at Albany School of Public Health
George Education Center Auditorium
University at Albany East Campus, Routes 9 & 20 (near Interstate 787 & downtown Albany).