EIS Officers Present Findings on Zika, E-Cigarettes, and Violent Death

The 65th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference took place from May 2-5, 2016, in Atlanta, featuring the presentation of groundbreaking investigations by officers known as disease detectives. The event, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), served as a platform for sharing life-saving findings on the Zika virus, e-cigarettes and various non-traditional public health threats.

CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., opened the conference on May 2, 2016. The proceedings highlighted the work of EIS officers who deploy to investigate emerging health threats and protect public health.

Zika Virus Investigations

A significant portion of the conference focused on the response to the Zika epidemic. Investigators presented findings on a cluster of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases identified in the Salvador area of Bahia State, Brazil, in 2016. The timing and location of this GBS outbreak coincided with the introduction and spread of the Zika virus in Brazil, which suggested a possible link between the two.

CDC researchers presented data regarding Zika virus disease in travelers returning to the United States. Between 2010 and 2016, the CDC identified 11 travel-related cases of Zika among returning travelers. These cases were identified before the Zika outbreak in the Caribbean gained widespread attention.

Diverse Public Health Threats

Beyond the Zika virus, the conference featured sessions dedicated to a wide array of health concerns. These included investigations into the use of e-cigarettes and non-traditional public health inquiries. The scope of these investigations extended to:

• Injury and violent death
• Environmental health
• Chronic diseases

The data on violent deaths, which includes the specific type of death such as homicide, is used to provide critical findings to state health officers and other professionals involved in disease control.

Professional Development and the Langmuir Lecture

The 2016 conference also highlighted the Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS). The LLS is a competency-based program similar to the EIS, designed to train fellows in leadership, the science of biosafety, and laboratory quality management.

One of the centerpieces of the event was the Langmuir Lecture, described as the preeminent public health lecture in the United States. Margaret Hamburg, M.D., a former FDA commissioner and foreign secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, delivered the lecture at the 2016 conference.

The Langmuir Lecture has a history of featuring prominent figures in science and medicine. Past speakers have included:

• Jonas Salk
• Sir Richard Doll
• Geoffrey Rose
• Abraham Lilienfeld

The Role of the Epidemic Intelligence Service

The Epidemic Intelligence Service serves as the nation’s flagship applied epidemiology program. For 73 years, EIS officers have been tasked with deploying at a moment’s notice to investigate health threats and save lives.

These incredibly dedicated officers are the public health fire fighters of today and the public health leaders of tomorrow.

Leslie Ann Dauphin, PhD, Director of CDC’s National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce

The annual EIS Conference allows these officers to share scientific findings and forward-thinking strategies intended to inform and implement improvements in public health infrastructure and response.