2015-31706. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and (e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone]. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

National Disease Surveillance Program-I—Case Reports—Revision—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Background and Brief Description

Surveillance of the incidence and distribution of disease has been an important function of the US Public Health Service (PHS) since an 1878 Act of Congress, which authorized the PHS to collect morbidity reports. After the Malaria Control in War Areas Program had fulfilled its original 1942 objective of reducing malaria transmission, its basic tenets were carried forward and broadened by the formation of the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) in 1946. CDC was conceived of as a well-equipped, broadly staffed agency used to translate facts about analysis of morbidity and mortality statistics on communicable diseases and through field investigations.

The surveillance emphasis has shifted as certain diseases have declined in incidence, national emergencies have prompted involvement in new areas, and other diseases have taken on new aspects. Surveillance for the following diseases was approved three years ago: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Cyclosporiasis cayetanensis, Q Fever, Dengue, Reye Syndrome, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), Tick-borne Rickettsial Disease, Kawasaki syndrome, Trichinosis, Legionellosis, Tularemia, Lyme Disease (LD), Typhoid Fever, Malaria, Viral Hepatitis, and Plague. Due to change requests and surveillance systems moving to and receiving information collection approval under OMB Control number 0920-0728 (National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)) during the last three years, the following diseases/conditions are now included in this program: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Reye Syndrome, Kawasaki syndrome, and Acute Flaccid Myelitis. CDC needs to continue this surveillance package for another three years to maintain continuity in these surveillance systems. The data throughout the years are used to monitor the occurrence of non-notifiable conditions and to plan and conduct prevention and control programs at the state, territorial, local and national levels.

CDC currently collects data for certain diseases in summary form under OMB Control number 0920-0004, (National Disease Surveillance Program II—Disease Summaries). These disease summaries are for important, yet different types of infections from those covered in this disease case reports request. Maintaining separate OMB Control number approvals for these two types of data collections assists CDC in managing the two surveillance activities.

CDC works with state health departments to propose, coordinate, and evaluate nationwide surveillance systems. State epidemiologists are responsible for the collection, interpretation, and transmission of medical and epidemiological information to CDC.

The original purpose for reporting communicable diseases was to determine the prevalence of diseases dangerous to public health. However, collecting data also provided the basis for planning and evaluating effective programs for prevention and control of infectious diseases. Current information on disease incidence is needed to study present and emerging disease problems. CDC coordination of nationwide reporting maintains uniformity so that comparisons can be made from state to state and year to year.

In addition to development of prevention and control programs, surveillance data serves as statistical material for those engaged in research or medical practice, aid to health education officials and students, and data for manufacturers of pharmaceutical products. Annual surveillance data are published in the MMWR Surveillance Summary. The total burden requested is 190 hours, a decrease in 11,257 hours since the last submission. This is due to the other diseases reporting moving to the Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (0920-0728). There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hrs.)
Epidemiologist	CJD	20	2	20/60
Epidemiologist	Kawasaki Syndrome	55	8	15/60
Epidemiologist	Reye Syndrome	50	1	20/60
Epidemiologist	Acute Flaccid Myelitis	100	1	30/60
Total

Leroy Richardson,

Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.