Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 09:56:40 -0400 (EDT) From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT Centers for Disease Control and Prevention May 27, 1994 NOTICE TO READERS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Respirator Certification Regulations On May 24, 1994, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register* to modify the certification regulations for respirators used in the workplace. The proposed changes would enable manufacturers to introduce improved respirators to protect workers exposed to hazardous airborne particulates including toxic dusts, mists, and fumes and airborne infectious contaminants such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A public meeting to discuss the proposed changes is scheduled for June 23-24, 1994, in Washington, D.C. Additional information or a copy of the proposed rule is available from the Chief, Certification and Quality Assurance Branch, Division of Safety Research, NIOSH, CDC, telephone (304) 284-5713. * 59 FR 26850. Public Health Leadership Institute The CDC/University of California's Public Health Leadership Institute (PHLI) is a 1-year scholars' program designed to strengthen the U.S. public health system by enhancing the leadership capacities of senior city, county, and state public health officials. The major themes of the program curriculum are: challenges--current and future issues confronting public health; leadership and vision; communication and information; and political and social change. The fourth year of the PHLI will begin October 30, 1994, and will include an intensive on-site session March 12- 17, 1995. At least 50 officials will be selected to participate in the PHLI. Senior state and local health officials, including state deputy directors nominated by health directors, are eligible to apply. Applications will be available in June 1994 and are due August 5. Scholars selected will be notified by September 15. Additional information and applications are available from the PHLI office, telephone (916) 448-7891, fax (916) 448-0753; or from CDC's Public Health Practice Program Office, telephone (404) 639-1945. Publication of CDC Strategic Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases CDC has released Addressing Emerging Infectious Disease Threats: A Prevention Strategy for the United States (1); the Executive Summary of this plan was published as an MMWR Recommendations and Reports (2). The plan was developed in partnership with other federal agencies; state and local health departments; academic institutions; professional societies; international organizations; and experts in public health, infectious diseases, and medical microbiology. The plan contains four goals that emphasize surveillance, applied research, prevention and control, and public health infrastructure. Single copies of the plan are available from CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, Office of Program Resources--EP, Mailstop C-14, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333. REFERENCES 1. CDC. Addressing emerging infectious disease threats: a prevention strategy for the United States. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, 1994. 2. CDC. Addressing emerging infectious disease threats: a prevention strategy for the United States: executive summary. MMWR 1994;43:(no. RR-5).