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Why Conduct ALS Surveillance?
Public health surveillance is needed to accurately determine the incidence and prevalence of ALS and to better understand the role of the environment in its etiology. In order to assess the burden of ALS, the Department needs accurate estimates of people affected by the disease. This information will allow the public health community to detect changes in disease prevalence, describe who develops the disease, investigate the health care needs of the population, and detect changes in health care practice. Consult our fact sheet for more information about public health surveillance and why it is important.
Legislative Mandate
On October 10, 2008, President George W. Bush signed a bill, which became Public Law No.: 110-373, to establish a national registry for ALS. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a sister agency to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, has been given responsibility to develop this registry.
Why Did New Jersey Become Involved In This Effort?
In order to evaluate the completeness of the National Registry and to obtain reliable information on the incidence and prevalence of ALS in a defined geographic area, ATSDR awarded McKing Consulting Corporation (McKing) a contract to oversee the development and implementation of three state-based ALS Surveillance Projects. McKing solicited proposals from nine states in November 2009. McKing selected Florida, New Jersey, and Texas based on their experience conducting similar projects, population demographics, and proposed costs for the project.
THEY’RE COUNTING ON YOU TO COUNT THEM IN. |
