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Health Surveillance - State of Mississippi

UPDATE: This information is current as of July 6, 2010, 12:00 PM ET

Map of the state of MississipiMississippi is using a surveillance tool to track emergency department visits in three coastal counties for four specific syndromes (groupings of signs and symptoms) that might be related to the oil spill. These syndromes include respiratory illnesses with fever, respiratory illness without fever, rash, and “other” (headache, nausea, and vomiting). This tool is also being used in four inland emergency departments to see if there is a difference in the coastal counties.

CDC’s Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS) is providing data from four coastal hospitals to be analyzed for chief complaints grouped in the four syndrome categories. EARS is a surveillance system available to local and state public health officials that assists them in analyzing data from emergency departments, 911 calls, physician office data, school and business absenteeism, and over-the-counter drug sales to identify health trends. Mississippi is reviewing these data daily to identify unusual trends that could be related to the oil spill.

Mississippi is also looking at Mississippi Poison Control Center data to determine the number of calls related to the oil spill and to watch for unusual trends.

If unusual trends are found in any of the four syndrome categories, Mississippi’s state and local departments of health will work to see if there is a relationship between the oil exposure and the symptoms.

FindingsFindings (June 20– 26)

During this period, there have been no significant differences found between the coastal emergency department visits and the inland emergency department visits for any of the four syndrome categories.

The Mississippi Poison Control Center reported seven calls related to the oil spill during this period.

Findings (June 13– 19)

During this period, there have been no significant differences found between the coastal emergency department visits and the inland emergency department visits for any of the four syndrome categories.

The Mississippi Poison Control Center reported 14 calls related to the oil spill during this period.

Findings (June 1 – June 12)

During this period, one coastal emergency department saw an increase in the number of patients with rashes on June 1, 2010. Public health officials investigated this increase and determined that it was not related to oil exposure. The increased number of rashes resulted from a number of illnesses, including insect bites, chicken pox, and hives.

The Mississippi Poison Control Center reported 13 calls related to the oil spill during this period.

Previous Updates

Findings (May 26 – May 31)
Findings (May 9 – May 25)

Resources

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