QMRA

Upcoming CAMRA Events

May 31 / June 1, 2008
1 Day QMRA Workshop at American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Boston

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Aug 9 - 15, 2008
1 Week QMRA Summer Institute at Michigan State University, East Lansing
        Aug 9 - 10 : Pre-statistic Course
        Aug 10 : Reception
        Aug 11-15 : QMRA

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Project Highlights

May 1, 2007
"Homeland Security Inside & Out"
Academic efforts to secure family from disease

Topic: Environmental clean-up after a bio-event
Webpage: http://hlsinsideandout.org/
Producer: KAMU 90.9 FM
Radio Broadcast: (29:28 - 39:00) Radio Broadcast: Radio Interview of Dr. Joan Rose and Dr. Charles Haas

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Christopher Y. Choi
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
The University of Arizona

Water quality models are widely used in analyses of water distribution systems. These network models have been used quite successfully for operational purposes, but in the context of providing real-time response for contamination events, the general mixing assumptions are most likely inadequate. Water security has been a concern of the water distribution community for several years, and it has become apparent that additional accuracy is critical to properly develop real-time response tools, especially if in-situ sensor equipment will be used to help detect intrusions. Current models assume instantaneous and complete mixing at pipe junctions and several studies have contributed to growing evidence that this assumption may be inadequate. The 'complete' mixing assumption becomes especially questionable at pipe cross junctions, where there may be limited contact and retention time between the water flows in two incoming pipe legs. The impact of solute mixing at these intersections, geometric components of a network system, is the focus of this work. Our computational and experimental results clearly indicate that mixing at pipe cross junctions is far from 'perfect'. Incomplete mixing results from bifurcating inlet flows that reflect off one another with minimal contact time. Improving the existing water quality model based on accurate mixing data and simulations is important not only to predict concentrations of chemical species such as chlorine in water distribution systems, but also to prepare for potential intentional and accidental contamination events.

Water Distribution Network Lab
Water Distribution Network Laboratory at the Water Village of the University of Arizona

Computational Flud Dynamics Simulations
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations - Mixing Pattern of Contaminants at a Cross-Junction

CAMRA Activities

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) Summer Institute 2007

Date: Aug 19 - 24

This week long institute was held on the Michigan State University campus. The institute aimed to teach participants tools and skills to quantitatively asess microbial risk to human health in various situations in the indoor and outdoor environment. Participants learnt how to use risk assessment for assuring safety and health goals, using scientific data and computer analysis.

QMRA 2007
QMRA 2007

Discussion Groups

Upcoming Conferences


3rd Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Summer Institute

August 10 -15, 2008 Michigan State University

This week long Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Summer Institute (QMRA SI) held on the Michigan State University campus aims to teach participants tools and skills to quantitatively assess microbial risk to human health in various situations in the indoor and outdoor environment. Participants will learn how to use scientific data and computer programs towards building a risk assessment for assuring safety and health goals. Designed for graduate students and professionals in fields such as engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, medicine, public health, nursing, veterinary medicine and emergency preparedness. Students will gain hands-on experience with risk assessment software and work on real-world case studies.

Registration Fee
$ 350 (Includes workbook, ground transportation, breakfast and dinner.
It excludes travel and hotel.)
*Scholarship available (Funding Application Form)
Please download an application form and e-mail it to neuman@msu.edu

For more information, please see the attached flyer: QMRA SI 2008

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Fellowship Program in Microbial Risk Assessment for Public Security, Safety and Health

With support from the Department of Homeland Security, Drexel and Michigan State Universities are offering a fellowship program in Microbial Risk Assessment for Public Security, Safety, and Health.

The fellowship program will integrate:
• Academic coursework resulting in a Master’s degree with a graduate certificate in Microbial Risk Assessment
• Research at the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment, an Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Homeland Security Research Center of Excellence based at Michigan State University and Drexel University
• Two, 6-month professional internships at Homeland Security Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (HS-STEM) sites. Appropriate sites for completion of the internship include government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and Environmental Protection Agency, national laboratories, and university-based Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence.

Support
Support up to $2,300/month (tuition and stipend) is available for graduate students. Four Master’s Fellowships will be available at Michigan State University.

For more information, please download the following poster: MRA Fellowship

Application Form: Download

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2008 IEEE International Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security

Date: May 12 - May 13, 2008

Location: Waltham, MA       

With technical assistance from the Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate, the eighth annual IEEE Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security HST '08 will focus on novel and innovative technologies, which address the most pressing national security problems.

The Conference will bring together innovators from leading universities, research laboratories, Homeland Security Centers of Excellence, small businesses, system integrators and the end user community and provide a forum to discuss ideas, concepts and experimental results...in parallel tracks in non-overlapping technical sessions.

New this year:  A structured session on Detecting and Protecting Against Terrorist Surveillance.

Deadline for abstract Submissions: Nov 10, 2007

More information can be found at: www.ieeehomelandsecurityconference.org

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108th General Meeting

Date: June 1 - June 5, 2008

Location: Boston, Massachusettes    

The American Society for Microbiology will hold its 108th General Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts from Sunday, June 1 to Thursday, June 5, 2008. Plan to attend all five days of a spectacular scientific program to be held
in the Boston Convention and Exposition Center. Consider also staying through the weekend to explore Boston, the seat of American History and
one of America's best dinng and shopping experiences.

Premeeting workshops precede the meeting and will be held both Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1.

The scientific program will feature nearly 300 individual colloquia, symposia, roundtable discussions, award lectures, & poster sessions. The 27 division chairs & the General Meeting Program Committee have devoted their energies to creating a well-rounded program.

Deadline for abstract Submissions: January, 2007

More information can be found at: http://gm.asm.org/

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World News

Yellow fever in Liberia - update

25 April 2008 -- The Ministry of Health, Liberia has reported one additional confirmed case of Yellow fever. The case, a 30 year old man, is from the same community as the index case, Zuotuo, Tappita District. Nimba County. The total number of confirmed cases is 2 including one death.

The case, was laboratory confirmed at the national laboratory in Monrovia and at the Pasteur Institute, Dakar, Senegal, a regional reference laboratory and WHO Collaborating Centre for Yellow Fever. The Ministry of Health (MoH) with technical assistance of WHO, has started to vaccinate Tappita District and plans to extend the reactive mass vaccination campaign to neighbouring districts.

The MoH has submitted a second request for yellow fever vaccines from the global emergency stockpile, managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision for Yellow Fever Control (YF-ICG). The new request targets 177 112 people. In total the first and second request target a population of 294 613 people.

More information: http://www.who.int/csr/don/
2008_04_25/en/index.html

Reference: World Health Organization

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Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever in Brazil

10 April 2008 -- As of 28 March, 2008, the Brazilian health authorities have reported a national total of 120 570 cases of dengue including 647 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases, with 48 deaths.

On 2 April 2008, the State of Rio de Janeiro reported 57 010 cases of dengue fever (DF) including 67 confirmed deaths and 58 deaths currently under investigation. Rio de Janeiro, where DEN-3 has been the predominant circulating serotype for the past 5 years since the major DEN-3 epidemic in 2002, is now experiencing the renewed circulation of DEN-2. This has led to an increase in severe dengue cases in children and about 50% of the deaths, so far, have been children of 0-13 years of age.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is working closely with the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Centro de Informações Estratégicas em Vigilância em Saúde (CIEVS) to implement the required control measures and identify priority areas for intervention. The MoH has already mobilized health professionals to the federal hospitals of Rio de Janeiro to support patient management activities, including clinical case management and laboratory diagnosis.

Additionally public health and emergency services professionals have been recruited to assist community-based interventions. Vector control activities were implemented throughout the State and especially in the Municipality of Rio. The Fire Department, military, and health inspectors of Funasa (Fundacao Nacional de Saude, MoH) are assisting in these activities.

More information: http://www.who.int/csr/don/
2008_04_10/en/index.html

Reference: World Health Organization

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