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A. ORGANIZATION CHART
Operations
Section
Case Investigation
Team
Epidemiology and
Surveillance Branch
Investigation Group
Data Branch
Information &
Guidance Branch
EPIDEMIOLOGY &
SURVEILLANCE
BRANCH
Contact Investigation
Team
Laboratory Liaison
Team
Disease Containment
Implementation Branch
TAB A1
Field Investigation
Team(s)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Surveillance Team
Surveillance Group
Medical Treatment
Branch
Syndromic Surveillance
Team
Syndromic Surveillance
Field Unit (s)
Sample Prep Unit
Lab Testing Team
Laboratory Group
PCR Unit
Conventional Testing
Unit
Lab Receiving /
Documentation
Team
Lab Surge Team
B. DESCRIPTION
a. Purpose & Objectives
The purpose of the Epidemiology and Surveillance
Branch is to gather information about the infectious
disease emergency. This module follows the Infectious
Disease Emergency Response (IDER) framework as
described in Tab A – Part D. It is important to
remember that each position in the organizational
chart above represents a function, not staff member.
Functions within the Epidemiology & Surveillance
Branch will be activated as needed during a response.
Branch objectives include:
1. Determine appropriate epidemiology and
surveillance strategies for the infectious disease
emergency
2. Conduct surveillance
3. Conduct or facilitate laboratory testing
4. Conduct epidemiological investigations
5. Identify sources of disease and causes of
disease spread
6. Monitor trends in the incidence and prevalence
Tab A: Epidemiologic Investigations &
Surveillance Overview
Tab A1: Epidemiology & Surveillance
Branch
Tab A1.1: Investigation Group
Tab A1.2: Surveillance Group
Tab A2: Data Branch
Tab A2.1: Data Analysis Group
Appendices
References:
Infectious Disease Emergency Response
Toolkit, Copyright © 2011 San
Francisco Bay Area Advanced
Practice Center
Alameda County Department of
Public Health Bioterrorism Defense
Plan, 2007.
of disease to identify new or unrecognized exposures or risk factors
7. Describe the epidemiological and clinical features of an event
8. Report cases to the proper agencies
The majority of these objectives will be achieved by the Acute Communicable Disease Unit at
ACPHD. Additional support will be provided as needed by Public Health Nurses, staff from
Community Assessment and Policy Evaluation Unit (CAPE), Information Systems (IS), and
other trained staff from DCDCP.
b. Methods
Primary strategies for epidemiology and surveillance include:
Surveillance. Surveillance is the continuous analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of
systematically collected data, generally using methods distinguished by their practicality,
uniformity and rapidity rather than by accuracy or completeness. By observing trends in time,
place, and persons, changes can be observed or anticipated and appropriate action, including
investigative or control measures, can be taken. At ACPHD, the CDSS database provides a
comprehensive overview of all reported communicable diseases, infectious disease outbreaks,
and sentinel events occurring in Alameda County, and will be used as the main surveillance
system. Alternative databases, such as EpiCenter, CalREDIE, the California Health Alert
Network and other state-wide databases will also be used for surveillance purposes, depending
on the type of infectious disease emergency. Consult Tab A1.2 – Surveillance Group for a
comprehensive overview of surveillance systems, data sources and key surveillance partners
used in Alameda County.
Investigation. Epidemiological investigation uses epidemiology tools, including case
investigation, contact investigation, and laboratory testing to establish person, place, and time
associated with an event. Additional, more labor-intensive, epidemiological investigations
include cohort and case-control studies. Investigation efforts during an infectious disease
emergency response will be coordinated by Acute Communicable Disease (ACD), using Public
Health Nurses and staff from the CAPE unit as size and scale of the emergency increases.
Laboratory Testing. Testing of human, animal, and environmental specimens/samples can
identify or confirm the identification of organisms responsible for an infectious disease
emergency. Laboratory testing can also assist in determining the responsible organism’s
transmissibility, pathogenicity, and/or antibiotic susceptibility. The Alameda County Public
Health Laboratory leads all efforts relating to lab specimen testing. In the absence of a
developed ICS module for the Laboratory Group, this plan will refer to the Public Health
Laboratory instead.
Consult the Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch modules for details regarding the above
strategies.
See the Appendix H1: Respiratory Aerosolized Transmissible (RAT) Disease Annex for
information on specific epidemiology and surveillance strategies as they relate to respiratory
aerosolized transmissible diseases. Refer to Chapter 3 of the Pandemic Influenza Response
Plan for information specific to a pandemic influenza event.
C. IMPLEMENTATION
a. Activation
Activate the Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch for every infectious disease response at
ACPHD.
The Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch Director is responsible for completion of
epidemiology and surveillance objectives.
b. Functions of the Epidemiology & Surveillance Branch
Pre Event Actions:



Identify, communicate, and oversee strategies to accomplish objectives and design
operational plans in accordance with the Incident Action Plan.
Approve scope of surveillance strategies and investigation activities.
Coordinate training of epidemiology and surveillance staff.
Event Actions:









Coordinate Surveillance Group, Investigation Group, and Public Health Laboratory
activities.
Ensure approval from the Incident Commander (IC) prior to sharing any identified or
de-identified laboratory data or information on suspected/confirmed cases or contacts.
Review the case definition and submit to the Operations Chief.
Determine whether to conduct a study, and if so, what type; inform Operations Chief.
Collaborate with the Data Branch to interpret and summarize surveillance information
for response and external stakeholders.
Review any requested data from the Data Branch (composed of CAPE and IS staff) and
provide interpretation and summary data for the response and external partners (in
collaboration with Data Branch.)
Ensure close coordination with the Data Branch regarding data collection, summaries,
analysis, and questionnaire development.
Ensure close coordination with ACPHD staff responsible for disease containment
activities, especially regarding any isolation and quarantine or restriction, exclusion and
clearance.
Ensure close coordination with Public Information Officer (PIO) and medical partners,
especially regarding case definitions, reporting and testing criteria, etc.




Ensure close coordination with healthcare providers, Emergency Medical Services, and
healthcare facilities regarding reporting of cases and/or any coordination of health care
systems data transfer.
Assure coordination with other partners/agencies/modules providing epidemiological
assistance.
Prioritize and assign responsibilities according to objectives and plans.
Communicate with the Operations Chief regularly.
Post Event Actions:

Order demobilization of branch response elements and ensure proper documentation.
D. STAFF POSITIONS
The following positions are required for minimum staffing levels:



Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch Director
Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch Deputy
Administrative Assistant Staff
Maintain staffing capacity to support surge epidemiological investigations in response to the
specific incident. All italicized positions are only necessary if the scope of the outbreak calls for
the additional support staff. Refer to the Job Action Sheets in appendices Ca1-Ca3 for more
information.
E. REPORTING
The Epidemiology & Surveillance Branch Director reports directly to the Operations Section
Chief. Following approval, incident-specific information will be provided to other Operations
Section Branch Directors.
F. DELIVERABLES
The Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch is responsible for producing the following:


Module Objectives and Update, ICS Form 202b (for each Operational Period)
Documents assigned to Epidemiology and Surveillance Groups, Teams, and Units
G. RESOURCES
The following resources will be required to perform response operations:
a. Protocols, forms, guidelines, and MOUs
Items
ICS Forms
Activation and Notification
Location
Appendix A
Appendix B
Organization Chart for Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch
and Data Branch
Epidemiology & Surveillance Branch JAS
Appendix B2
Surveillance and Reporting Forms
Appendix D
Health Education Materials
Appendix F
EpiPrep Training Materials
Appendix G
RAT Annex
Appendix H1
Appendices Ca1-3
b. Office and Communication Supplies
Item
Telephone
Fax machine access
Computer with local
network, internet access
Printer access
800 MHz Radio/cell
phone/pager
Copy machine access
No. Required
1
1
1+
Location or Request From
Logistics
Logistics
Logistics
1
1
Logistics
Logistics
1
Logistics