III. EPIDEMIOLOGIC SERVICES 

 A. Policy 



TJie Center for Disease Coiifrol provides epidemiologic assistance to state health de- 

 partments at their request and has responsibility for interstate disease outbreaks. Consulta- 

 tion is freely provided to individual menbers of the health professions and lay public on 

 an ad hoc basis, although formal assistance is coordinated through state health departments. 



Philip ^.^•t?ichmz.r[,y[D. 

 Director, Bureau of Epidemiology 



B. Epidemiologic Consultation and Assistance 



Legionnaires' disease may occur as sporadic cases or in outbreaks. Because some out- 

 breaks of Legionnaires" disease may be temiinated by identifying and eliminating a common 

 source of infection (e.g., a contaminated air-conditioning cooling tower or evaporative con- 

 denser), consultation may be desired concerning a cluster of cases of Legionnaires" disease. 

 This can be obtained directly from the state epidemiologist, whose name and telephone 

 number can be obtained from the department of health or comparable agency of the state 

 government, or from: 



Center for Disease Control 

 Attention: Special Pathogens Branch 



Bacterial Diseases Division 



Bureau of Epidemiology 

 Atlanta. Georgia 30333 

 Telephone: (404)320-3687 



The size of a cluster necessitating consultation will vary greatly depending on how 

 tightly the cases are clustered in time and space. Occasionally examination of tight clusters 

 as small as two to four cases may provide information of public health importance. 



C. Clinical Consultation 



Specific antibiotic therapy may decrease the case-fatality ratio associated with Legion- 

 naires' disease, so early clinical and laboratory diagnosis is of great importance. Consultation 

 on the clinical aspects of suspected cases of Legionnaires' disease is available from the state 

 epidemiologist, whose name and telephone number can be obtained from the department of 

 health or comparable agency of the state government, or from: 



Center for Disease Control 

 Attention: Special Pathogens Branch 



Bacterial Diseases Division 



Bureau of Epidemiology 

 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 

 Telephone: (404) 329-3687 



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