The 7th Annual OutbreakNet Conference was held in Long Beach, California, September 19-22, 2011, in conjunction with the 15th Annual PulseNet Update meeting. Nearly 300 laboratorians, epidemiologists and environmental health professionals from the United States, Germany, Egypt and Canada participated in the joint meeting. Participants represented federal, state and local public health and food regulatory agencies.
The theme for this year’s meeting was “PulseNet & OutbreakNet: Evolving Connectivity in Food Safety.” The meeting was opened on September 19th with welcome and introductory remarks from Dr. Victor Waddell, President of APHL; Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, Director, Communicable Disease and Control for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; and Ms. Mimi Lachica, Long Beach Public Health Laboratory Director. The keynote address was given by Caroline Smith Dewaal, Director of Food Safety, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
On Tuesday, September 20th, Dr. Chris Braden, Director of CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, provided opening remarks for a day of combined sessions for PulseNet and OutbreakNet meeting participants.
The following morning, Dr. Ian Williams, Chief of CDC’s Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch, opened the OutbreakNet sessions for Wednesday and Thursday, September 21st – 22nd. Also on Wednesday and Thursday, PulseNet and OutbreakNet Conference attendees participated in joint Breakout Sessions for additional discussion, as well as a Poster Session.
The full agenda for the 7th Annual OutbreakNet Conference, including the session held in conjunction with the 15th Annual PulseNet Update Meeting, is available at: http://www.aphl.org/conferences/PastConferencesPages/2011/15thPulseNet_7thOutbreakNet/OBN_agenda_final_CDC.pdf
This meeting further strengthened PulseNet and OutbreakNet networks by sharing information on new methods, technology and experiences. Moreover, new partnerships among laboratorians, epidemiologists and environmental health specialists were formed and existing relationships were enhanced through the numerous networking opportunities during the meeting.
Throughout the meeting, discussions were held surrounding the challenges that face our current food safety system and the innovations and new approaches that can be utilized in the changing landscape of food safety.
For more information on the Annual OutbreakNet Conference or for inquires related to OutbreakNet activities, please contact CDC’s OutbreakNet team at OutbreakNet@cdc.gov.
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