Post by whiterose on Aug 19, 2007 7:31:52 GMT -5
www.cdc.gov/unexplaineddermopathy/investigation.html
Unexplained Dermopathy (aka "Morgellons")
Unexplained Dermopathy (aka "Morgellons") > CDC Investigation
CDC Investigation
The suffering that many people associate with this condition is best addressed by a careful, objective scientific analysis. Considering the complexity of this condition, we believe that a measured and thorough approach offers the best chance for finding useful answers.
As part of CDC's ongoing process to identify potential sites for the epidemiologic investigation, in July 2007 CDC published a solicitation notice about CDC’s planned investigation of this unexplained dermopathy in Federal Business Opportunities. In the notice, CDC announced that it may award a contract to Kaiser Permanente Northern California to assist the government in conducting the investigation. The notice also served to solicit the services of other organizations that may be capable of doing tasks related to the investigation, as specified in the notice. CDC will award a contract to the vendor that is identified during the solicitation process.
The primary goals of the investigation are to better describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of this condition and to generate hypotheses about possible risk factors. The investigation will involve: assessing histopathologic features of the skin condition based on skin biopsies from affected patients; characterizing the foreign material such as fibers or threads obtained from patients with the condition to determine their potential source; describing the geographic distribution of the illness; and estimating rates of illness in the community. CDC has convened a multi-disciplinary working group consisting of experts in epidemiology, environmental health, dermatology, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, pathology and mental health to provide consultation to the epidemiologic investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
For answers to frequently asked questions about CDC's Unexplained Dermopathy Investigation, click on the links below.
Why did CDC select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as the potential partner for the investigation?
When does CDC plan to begin the investigation?
If I have more questions about the CDC’s investigation, what should I do?
Why did CDC select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as the potential partner for the investigation?
Because this condition is thought to be rare, CDC sought a location and an organization that would likely have an adequate number of patients to be able to conduct a careful investigation. There are several factors that led CDC to select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as a potential partner in this investigation. First, Kaiser Permanente Northern California is located in a geographic area where self-reported cases of this condition are concentrated. Second, Kaiser Permanente has a membership which comprises a large proportion of the population in the Northern California area, thereby allowing estimation of rates of the condition in the population. Third, Kaiser Permanente has electronic health records that will allow a systematic method of identifying patients who may have this condition.
When does CDC plan to begin the investigation?
The investigation will begin once the contract is awarded to the vendor that is selected. CDC will begin work with the qualified vendor immediately to identify and evaluate patients who are eligible to participate in the planned investigation.
If I have more questions about the CDC’s investigation, what should I do?
Inquiries regarding this investigation can be sent to:
Email: morgellonssyndrome@cdc.gov or
Phone: 404-718-1199 (Pre-recorded message with voicemail)
At this time, we are not able to provide individual responses to each inquiry, but our public inquiry e-mail and phone line are checked regularly. Answers to frequently asked questions will be posted to this website and this website will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
Page last modified: August 17, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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Unexplained Dermopathy (aka "Morgellons")
Unexplained Dermopathy (aka "Morgellons") > CDC Investigation
CDC Investigation
The suffering that many people associate with this condition is best addressed by a careful, objective scientific analysis. Considering the complexity of this condition, we believe that a measured and thorough approach offers the best chance for finding useful answers.
As part of CDC's ongoing process to identify potential sites for the epidemiologic investigation, in July 2007 CDC published a solicitation notice about CDC’s planned investigation of this unexplained dermopathy in Federal Business Opportunities. In the notice, CDC announced that it may award a contract to Kaiser Permanente Northern California to assist the government in conducting the investigation. The notice also served to solicit the services of other organizations that may be capable of doing tasks related to the investigation, as specified in the notice. CDC will award a contract to the vendor that is identified during the solicitation process.
The primary goals of the investigation are to better describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of this condition and to generate hypotheses about possible risk factors. The investigation will involve: assessing histopathologic features of the skin condition based on skin biopsies from affected patients; characterizing the foreign material such as fibers or threads obtained from patients with the condition to determine their potential source; describing the geographic distribution of the illness; and estimating rates of illness in the community. CDC has convened a multi-disciplinary working group consisting of experts in epidemiology, environmental health, dermatology, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, pathology and mental health to provide consultation to the epidemiologic investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
For answers to frequently asked questions about CDC's Unexplained Dermopathy Investigation, click on the links below.
Why did CDC select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as the potential partner for the investigation?
When does CDC plan to begin the investigation?
If I have more questions about the CDC’s investigation, what should I do?
Why did CDC select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as the potential partner for the investigation?
Because this condition is thought to be rare, CDC sought a location and an organization that would likely have an adequate number of patients to be able to conduct a careful investigation. There are several factors that led CDC to select Kaiser Permanente Northern California as a potential partner in this investigation. First, Kaiser Permanente Northern California is located in a geographic area where self-reported cases of this condition are concentrated. Second, Kaiser Permanente has a membership which comprises a large proportion of the population in the Northern California area, thereby allowing estimation of rates of the condition in the population. Third, Kaiser Permanente has electronic health records that will allow a systematic method of identifying patients who may have this condition.
When does CDC plan to begin the investigation?
The investigation will begin once the contract is awarded to the vendor that is selected. CDC will begin work with the qualified vendor immediately to identify and evaluate patients who are eligible to participate in the planned investigation.
If I have more questions about the CDC’s investigation, what should I do?
Inquiries regarding this investigation can be sent to:
Email: morgellonssyndrome@cdc.gov or
Phone: 404-718-1199 (Pre-recorded message with voicemail)
At this time, we are not able to provide individual responses to each inquiry, but our public inquiry e-mail and phone line are checked regularly. Answers to frequently asked questions will be posted to this website and this website will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
Page last modified: August 17, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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