WHO:

Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, CDC
Dr. Robert Tauxe, Deputy Director, CDC Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases

WHAT:

Release of "Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food - 10 States, United States, 2006" being published in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

WHY:

The new report highlights foodborne illness disease trends and growing foodborne illness challenges.

Foodborne illnesses are a substantial health burden in the United States. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) collects data from 10 U.S. states regarding diseases caused by enteric pathogens transmitted commonly through food. FoodNet quantifies and monitors the incidence of these infections by conducting active, population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed illnesses. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2006 and compares them with baseline data from the period 1996-1998.

WHEN:

Thursday, April 12, 2007, 11 AM, ET
Brief remarks followed by Q&A

*Dr. Tauxe will be available for television interviews from 2 to 3 p.m.

Call the CDC Media Office to make arrangements.

Media should call in and ask questions by toll-free conference line. The briefing will begin promptly; media should dial in a few minutes before the start of the conference.

• Dial-in: 1-888-795-0855
• Listen Only: 1-800-857-4990
• Passcode: CDC Media

LISTEN-ONLY AUDIO WEBCAST

This briefing will also be audio webcast.

Listen to the Briefing: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=39102

TRANSCRIPT

The guidance document, graphics and a full transcript of this teleconference will be available following the briefing on the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.