Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-96-19]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and

Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on

proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.

To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a

copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports

Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways

to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,

including through the use of automated collection techniques for other

forms of information technology. Send comments to Wilma Johnson, CDC

Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA

30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this

notice.

[[Page 40422]]

Proposed Projects

1. National Disease Surveillance Program--II. Disease Summaries

(0920-0004)--Reinstatement--Surveillance of the incidence and

distribution of disease has been an important function of the U.S.

Public Health Service since 1878. Through the years, PHS/CDC has

formulated practical methods of disease control through field

investigations. The CDC surveillance program is based on the premise

that diseases cannot be diagnosed, prevented or controlled until

existing knowledge is expanded and new ideas developed and implemented.

Over the years the mandate of CDC has broadened to include preventive

health activities and the surveillance systems maintained have

expanded. This surveillance program is authorized under the provisions

of Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act.

Data on disease and preventable conditions are collected in

accordance with jointly approved plans by CDC and the Council of State

Territorial Health Epidemiologists. Changes in the surveillance program

and in reporting methods are effected in the same manner. At the onset

of this surveillance program in 1968, the CSTE and CDC decided on which

diseases warranted surveillance. These diseases are reviewed and

revised based on variations in the public health. Surveillance forms

are distributed to the State and local health departments who

voluntarily submit these reports to CDC on variable frequencies, either

weekly or monthly. CDC then calculates and publishes weekly statistics

via the MMWR, providing the states with timely aggregates of their

submissions.

The following diseases/conditions are included in this program:

Influenza virus, respiratory and enterovirus, arboviral encephalitis,

rabies, salmonella, campylabacter, shigella, foodborne outbreaks,

waterborne outbreaks, and enteric virus. This request is for extension

of the data collection for three years with minor revisions. A new form

has been added for Enteric Virus Surveillance to monitor national

patterns in the epidemiology of rotovirus.

Increased use of electronic submission will reduce the burden

during the next three years.

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No. of Avg. burden/ Total

Respondents No. of responses/ response burden (in

respondents respondent (in hrs.) hrs.)

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State/Local health department staff......................... 864 28 0.25 6048

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Dated: July 29, 1996.

Wilma G. Johnson,

Acting Associate Director for Policy Planning and Evaluation, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 96-19646 Filed 8-1-96; 8:45 am]

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