Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference Begins June 8...

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference Begins June
8 In Denver

DENVER, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The top epidemiologists in the
nation and U.S. territories are set to gather in Denver, ColoradoJune 8-12 for
the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) 2008 Annual
Conference.

This year's conference theme is "Public Health Epidemiology: Adapting to a
Changing World." The theme -- and much of the research to be presented during
the conference -- reflects the increasing challenges to public health posed by
emerging threats or by familiar risks that have evolved to become more
pervasive and persistent.

"The recent outbreak of salmonella infection in Alamosa, Colorado caused by
contamination of the public water supply is an example of how easily microbes
can re-invent themselves to cause widespread illness," CSTE President-elect
Perry Smith, M.D. said. "With global warming, rapid population growth,
technology that allows travelers to move from one part of the world to another
in a matter of hours, and intentional threats from bioterrorism, America's
disease detectives increasingly are at the forefront of the fight against
pathogens, environmental health hazards, and preventable injuries."

The job of an epidemiologist is to understand what causes people to get sick
and to find ways to reduce illness, injury and death from preventable causes.
"CSTE members are devoted to detecting patterns in occurrence of illness and
injury; meticulously analyzing clues; and applying findings to solve medical
mysteries and inform decisions that protect people's health," Smith said.
"The Annual Conference offers the opportunity for members to share their
research, broaden their knowledge, and -- together -- improve the science and
practice of applied epidemiology."

CSTE is a professional association of over 1,050 public health epidemiologists
working in states, local health agencies, and territories. CSTE works to
establish more effective relationships among state and other health agencies.
It also provides technical advice and assistance to partner organizations,
such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and
to federal public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). CSTE members have surveillance and epidemiology expertise in
a broad range of areas including occupational health, infectious diseases,
immunization, environmental health, chronic diseases, injury control, and
maternal and child health. CSTE's work is an important step in ensuring a
well-prepared and competent public health workforce.

Highlights of the 2008 CSTE Annual Conference include:

-- Public Health Epidemiology in a Changing World -- Emerging and
evolving
super-bugs, climate change, man-made threats and risky lifestyle
choices
present big challenges for America's disease detectives (Monday,
June 9)
-- The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival -- Whether your
community CARES might someday save your life (Monday, June 9)
-- Mercy, MRSA! Should you be worried that the family pet might be
spreading deadly germs? (Tuesday, June 10)
-- It's only natural -- how and why park rangers are doubling as
health educators (Tuesday, June 10)
-- Universal school age flu vaccination -- will we make the grade?
(Tuesday, June 10)

SOURCE Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

Lakesha Robinson of Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Cell:
+1-678-656-9052, lrobinson@cste.org