Agenda - 11-03-1999 - 9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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~.•~J :.t: .. .y. •• •• ~. •. •• .. •. .~ 12 :'~ determTnt*+g the syphilis cases seen in the last quarter and comparing these to cases reported.. In • ~ addition, procedures for screening and reporting cases will be reviewed at each local jail, drug treatment center, emergency room, and other clinics which serve the high-risk population. To better understand the epidemiology of syphilis cases, we plan a pilot project to characterize strains of Treponema pallidum. With the collaboration of the Division of AIDS, STD, and T13 Laboratory Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, we will assess T. pallidum strains within our five-county target area in 1998-99. These data will allow us to evaluate the hypothesis that the syphilis epidemic is moving across the central part of the state, presumably facilitated by the movement of core transmitters. Empiric demonstration of strain movement from county to county, or demonstration that local epidemics are not linked, will help direct future prevention efforts. • 2. Plan Development Each county will be given funds to hire an outreach worker. The county will either hire the outreach worker or contract with a community based organizaxion to hire the worker. The outreach workers will need to be street smart, nonjudgmental, and respected by the communities and individuals at risk. The outreach workers will also be trained in phelobotomy so that they can obtain blood specimens outside of clinic settings. The outreach workers should be in place by December 31,1998. Regardless of the employer, the outreach worker will work closely with the county health department, the community-based organizations, other county agencies and the Section. These relationships will be established through a memorandum of understanding. A syphilis awareness task force will be formed in each county. by inviting representatives from (at a minimum) health-related CBOs, the county jail, the housing authority, and the Iocal health department, as well as the syphilis outreach worker. The task forces will meet at Ieast quarterly to assess the impact of syphilis intervention and plan intervention activities for the following quarter in the county. A syphilis elimination plan, customized for each county, will be developed through the joint efforts of the project coordinator, local DIS, local CBO representatives, other members of the syphilis awareness task force, and Section star'fi Results of the community and clinical ser traces assessments as described above will be used to determine the details of each county's plan. Because of similarities among the syphilis. outbreaks in this area of North Carolina, it is e~.-pected that the plans will have many common components, but local #leaibility is critical. r ~. Plan Implementation Although the specifics of the plan will vary.from county to county, and will not be determined until after the community assessments are performed, same basic components are expected: to be included based on previous work done in Guilford County. These components are outlined below. 7