Purpose:
The aim of the Early Warning Infectious Disease surveillance Program (EWIDS) is to strengthen cross-border public health activities along the Texas-Tamaulipas border with a focus on the early detection, identification, and reporting of diseases associated with potential bioterrorism or other events of public health significance. The border counties in HSR-11 served by the EWIDS Program include Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr, Brooks, Jim Hoggs, Zapata, Duval, Webb and McMullen counties.
Activities:
- share surveillance information on a weekly basis to provide an epidemiological picture of the Texas-Tamaulipas border.
- Improve surveillance-related communication and information technology to strengthen the ability of tamaulipas and Texas to work together during a crisis or emergency.
- Prepare for a binational public health emergency, such as an act of bioterrorism or an outbreak of disease, through education adn training.
- Maintain binational case reporting to detect binational outbreaks of illness and institute prompt actions along the border to prevent the spread of disease.
- Develop binational agreements for the coordination of infectious disease detection, monitoring, control, and information sharing.
Program Contacts:
Herminia Alva , MPH, CPH, Epidemiologist III, office: 956-421-5560
Nina Worley, Binational Planner, office: 956-316-8171
Natalie Boutwell, PHT II, office: 956-444-3264
Sylvia Garza, - PHT II, office: 956-487-5559
Fax: 956-444-3216
24/7 epidemiologist on-call: 956-421-5559