Sunday, May 18, 2025
5/18/2025
Emerging Infections Program - The CDC’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP) aligns with the capacity, strengths, and goals of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention (BIDP). BIDP contains the state’s Communicable Diseases Division, Immunization Division, and Emerging and Zoonotic Infections program in addition to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS), the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), and the Michigan Syndromic Surveillance System. BIDP employs a data driven approach to disease surveillance and control to maximize benefit to the public’s health, creates efficiencies through modern systems and strong partner relationships, contributes to national science and literature, and strives to foster a culture of learning to the advancement of disease control programs. Michigan capacity to deliver on the approach of EIP is demonstrated by our many contributions to national conferences and publications, organizational capacity, expertise, and experience, the ability to quickly onboard staff, multitude of existing partnerships, and reputable data systems currently undergoing modernization. The EIP funding opportunity affords BIDP the ability to further our understanding of infectious disease surveillance in the State and improving public health locally, while also contributing to national surveillance efforts that can inform national surveillance and control practice and policy. The award will also provide the opportunity to add additional infrastructure positions, advance data modernization efforts, and offer a mechanism for rapid and flexible response to emerging disease threats. MDHHS is applying for several components of the EIP funding opportunity including RESP-NET (FluSurv-NET, RSV-NET, and COVID-NET), Healthcare Associated Infections – Community Interface (HAIC), HPV-IMPACT, and mpox Vaccine Effectiveness Evaluation, in addition to the Infrastructure and Modernization and Surveillance and Reporting sections. MDHHS is already an active participant in RESP-NET, as an EIP-like jurisdictions funded through the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. MDHHS began participating in FluSurv-NET in 2009, RSV-NET in 2018, and COVID-NET in 2020. The added capacity through participation in these active surveillance projects has given the Department the ability to respond swiftly to novel respiratory pathogens and variants (e.g. swine flu, COVID-19). As part of participation in RESP-NET, MDHHS already has an active surveillance catchment area comprised of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Genesee, and Washtenaw counties with a population of over 1 million Michiganders. That foundation will be leaned on as we endeavor to our EIP participation to HAIs, HPV, and mpox. BIDP infectious disease programs are benefited from strong partnerships with state professional organizations, health systems, laboratories, local health departments, and academic institutions. Significant partnerships include the University of Michigan School of Public Health, located within the catchment area in Washtenaw county, who were provided a grant of authority from the Director of MDHHS to cement their role as an extension of the health department in response to COVID-19. Indeed, the UM School of Public Health is nationally renowned for their contributions to whole genome sequencing related to HAIs, participation in both local and national respiratory virus vaccine effective ness studies, and estimations of disease burden and modelling. Our purpose is to formally identify MDHHS as an EIP site and to expand our involvement in national active surveillance activities beyond RESP-NET. Modernization of data systems will allow for automated capture and transmission of data such that we can expand our catchment area over the course of the project to enhance our local understanding of infectious disease epidemiology and improve public health in Michigan, while advancing national-level policy and practice.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).