SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a proposed data collection as described below.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses; and

5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

Leptospirosis and Melioidosis Active Hospital-based Surveillance in Puerto Rico—Existing Collection in Use Without an OMB Control Number—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

This project aims to identify leptospirosis and melioidosis cases in Puerto Rico by establishing active surveillance for both diseases at four hospital sites for timely disease identification and treatment and to improve understanding of leptospirosis and melioidosis epidemiology and ecology in Puerto Rico for public health control and prevention planning. Both diseases can cause outbreaks after hurricanes and flooding, especially in tropical areas, and this project is being conducted in response to an increase in leptospirosis cases after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

Participants will be recruited from the population presenting to the emergency department of the four hospital sites with febrile illness, and will be interviewed to gather information on symptoms, possible exposures, and medical history, in addition to having diagnostic samples collected to test for leptospirosis plus or minus melioidosis (depending on presenting symptoms). Participants will also be interviewed approximately two weeks after enrollment to determine illness progression and outcome. Patients testing positive for leptospirosis, if willing, may have animal samples taken from their home or work environments to help determine the animal reservoirs related to human leptospirosis illness in Puerto Rico.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 1,675 annual burden hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate.

87 FR 6554