Presentation starts at 34:15.
Super Bowl XLIX took place on February 1st, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. In preparation for this large scale public event and related event activities, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) was tasked with developing a plan for enhanced surveillance, situational awareness and methods for early detection of public health emergencies and outbreaks. A Public Health and Medical Resource Work Group and an Epidemiology Work Group with local, state and federal partners were organized and monthly meetings to discuss epidemiologic surveillance activities and develop a plan took place from July 2014 to January 2015. Fiesta Bowl (December 31st, 2014) scheduled to take place in the same location as Super Bowl, was selected to pilot test epidemiologic surveillance strategies.
Epidemiologic surveillance strategies were developed and coordinated to monitor levels of disease activity and provide situational awareness during Pro Bowl (January 25th, 2015), NFL Experience and Super Bowl Central (January 24th, 2015 through February 1st, 2015) and Super Bowl. Surveillance strategies were successfully tested during Fiesta Bowl. Field surveillance collected information on 4 distinct syndromes (gastrointestinal, respiratory, dermatological and neurological) as well as injuries. An aberration detection system was developed to detect increases in illness reported to the Arizona Medical Electronic Disease Surveillance System. Enhanced surveillance alerts for increases in illness were sent to healthcare partners and were in place during all monitored events. An enhanced animal surveillance network was also established. Biosense was monitored for syndromic surveillance at participating facilities. The Arizona Prehospital Information and EMS Registry System was also monitored for selected syndromes. Influenza-like illness surveillance for sentinel sites was in place. Poison Control Center data and mortality surveillance within an all hazards approach was also coordinated. MCDPH also monitored foodborne outbreaks and produced a daily outbreak report. Syndromic surveillance in hotels and urgent cares located within a 5 mile radius of the events was also conducted. In addition, the NFL clinic provided daily reports to MCDPH. The MCDPH Public Health Incident Command Center was activated and the Intelligence Section, responsible for epidemiologic surveillance, produced a daily Intelligence Section Report summarizing results from all surveillance efforts.
Presenter
Aurimar Ayala, MPH
Epidemiologist
Office of Epidemiology
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Learning Objectives
- Describe the Epidemiologic Surveillance Strategies in place during Super Bowl XLIX and related events
- Describe the Public Health Incident Command Center at Maricopa County Department of Public Health and how it was utilized during Super Bowl XLIX and related events
- Describe lessons learned for epidemiologic surveillance strategies during large events and future action items