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Multistate Outbreak of Meningitis
CDC continues to monitor the multistate outbreak of meningitis and stroke associated with potentially contaminated steroid medication. Stay informed by visiting CDC's Health Alert Network webpage. On the FDA Voice blog, Dr. Margaret Hamburg discusses why state and local partnerships are crucial during a multi-state outbreak of illness.
NACCHO has a document summarizing over 30 LHDs' experiences with the multistate fungal meningitis outbreak. Intended for LHD staff, this summary gives in-depth information about what LHDs are experiencing. NACCHO is also working on a second summary that is intended for media, policy- and decision-makers, national partners, and other stakeholders. It will provide talking points in response to inquiries from this target audience. This document will be available on NACCHO's Infectious Disease Prevention and Control webpage soon.
If your LHD has conducted any activities related to the outbreak, please e-mail infectiousdiseases@naccho.org. NACCHO will de-identify responses and continue to compile incoming information. NACCHO will also update these documents as needed.
Control of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Course -January 7-12, 2013
CDC and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health will sponsor an environmental microbiology course, Control of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases, in Atlanta, Georgia. This six-day course on the surveillance of foodborne and waterborne diseases is designed for public health practitioners and other students interested in the safety of food and water.
Global Handwashing Day
Global Handwashing Day was October 15, 2012 - did your LHD participate in any activities related to it? The Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing's website has resources and news to help you prepare for next year.
Search for LHDs Engaged with Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
Is your LHD involved with the ACO initiative? Has your LHD developed a role within your area's ACO? Dr. Paul Etkind, Director of Infectious Diseases at NACCHO, is working with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials to identify LHDs that are working to integrate public health with clinical care. Please e-mail petkind@naccho.org with your contact information if this applies to your LHD.
Sign Up for Vote & Vax
Vote & Vax is a national program that works with local public health providers to assist them in launching vaccination clinics at or near polling places. Resources and technical assistance are available for healthcare professionals interested in setting up an influenza vaccination clinic at or near a polling site on November 6, 2012.
Flu + You
The National Council on Aging's (NCOA's) Flu + You campaign seeks to educate and empower older adults and their caregivers about the dangers of influenza, the importance of annual vaccination, and available vaccination options. It includes a toolkit and key facts. NCOA also will conduct regional programming for Flu + You in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania to reach older adults and their caregivers. See a list of dates and locations.
List Your Influenza Vaccine Clinic with HealthMap Vaccine Finder
The public can now find real-time influenza vaccination clinics at local health departments, pharmacies, and other influenza vaccination venues by using the free, online HealthMap Vaccine Finder. LHDs and other providers in your jurisdiction who want to list their influenza vaccine clinics with HealthMap Vaccine Finder can start the process to sign up using the online form. Once approved as a clinic location, the provider will be responsible for providing up-to-date information on clinics and vaccine doses. Contact the HealthMap team at vaccine@healthmap.org with questions regarding this program.
Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation Project
The purpose of the Appalachian Diabetes Control and Translation project is to prevent and control diabetes through developing coalitions in distressed counties in Appalachia. The project will help coalitions organize around the problem of diabetes, including planning, implementing, and evaluating their specific projects. The community projects should seek to help people with type 2 diabetes control their disease and prevent the disease in people who may be at risk. There are grants of $2,000 for emerging coalitions in distressed and at-risk counties that have never been funded in the past. Applications are due November 16, 2012. Reference the guidance documents here.
Sequestration and Your LHD
Budget cuts totaling eight percent of spending across federal departments are set to go into effect on January 2, 2013. Learn how sequestration may affect LHDs at NACCHO's Budget Cuts - Sequestration webpage.
Open Staff Positions at NACCHO NACCHO's Pandemic & Catastrophic Preparedness Program is currently hiring a senior program analyst. For more information about this position, please visit the NACCHO Career Network. NACCHO Model Practices Applications Open October 1,2012 Since 2003, NACCHO's Model Practices Program has honored and recognized outstanding local public health practices and shared these practices through the Model Practices Database. Share what works by submitting a practice and contribute to the overall improvement of public health through evidence-based practice methods. The submission period is open October 1-31, 2012, and the application can be found here. For more information, contact NACCHO's Model Practices team at practices@naccho.org. Submit a Tool to NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits are intended to provide LHDs with resources related to immunization and infectious disease prevention and control practices. Examples of tools include templates, guides, community resources and much more. Log in to submit your own resources to the Toolkit to share with other LHDs. | 
