NYS/HRI Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) - The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has been a leader in protecting and advancing the health of all New York State residents through a comprehensive network of public health activities and services. NYSDOH has direct oversight of 57 counties exclusive of New York City (NYC) with a population of approximately 11,337,000. The NYSDOH has statutory authority requiring physicians, hospitals, and licensed clinical laboratories to report confirmed or suspect cases of over 60 communicable diseases and conditions. Local health departments (LHDs) conduct case investigations and report cases to the NYSDOH. Investigations, particularly outbreak or nosocomial events, are largely collaborative efforts among the LHD, state regional and central office epidemiology staff, and the NYSDOH Wadsworth Center public health laboratories. ELC initiatives represent a unique, integrated collaboration among the Department’s Office of Public Health that brings together, epidemiology, laboratory and health information systems experts. Through these collaborations, the proposed projects will strengthen epidemiologic capacity, enhance laboratory testing capacity, improve information systems, identify prevention and control strategies, and further enhance collaboration among epidemiology, laboratory and information systems as well as with other external partners. Performance measures and expected outcomes are defined in the work plans for each project area. Outcomes include increased collection, completeness, dissemination and use of timely data which will be used to improve interventions, increase awareness and decrease the disease burden. *Population per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: New York
