WHAT:

Release of “Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — 10 States, 2008,” which is being published in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

WHO:

Robert Tauxe, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director, CDC Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases

David Acheson, M.D., Associate Commissioner for Foods, FDA

David Goldman, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Administrator, USDA Food Safety Inspection Service

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 2008 and compares them with the period from 1996 to 1998, the first three years of surveillance.

WHEN:

Thursday April 9, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ET.  Please remember that the information is embargoed until 12 p.m. ET.

DIAL-IN:

Media: 888-795-0855
Listen Only: 800-621-8614
INTERNATIONAL: 1-212-287-1766
PASSCODE: CDC Media

Important Instructions: If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

LISTEN-ONLY AUDIO WEBCAST

This press briefing media will also be available via listen-only audio web cast at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=57711.

TRANSCRIPT

A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media.