Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

History

In the United States, during the late 19th century, to prevent the introduction and spread of cholera, smallpox, plague, and yellow fever, Congress charged the U.S. Marine Hospital Service, now the Public Health Service, with the first official collection information from individuals afflicted with disease. For the next 60 years, state and territorial health authorities worked with the Public Health Service to designate additional diseases to be reported. Then, in 1951, under the direction of Alexander Langmuir, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) first Epidemiology Division Director, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers convened the first national meeting of state and territorial epidemiologists. At this meeting, CSTE, initially the Conference of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, was established and, with input from the CDC, given the authority to identify and recommend nationally notifiable diseases for inclusion in the National Public Health Surveillance System list.

Purpose and Select Activities

CSTE aims to improve health and affect public health practice through the appropriate use of epidemiology. To accomplish this, CSTE works with the CDC on a number of projects.

Standardized Definitions and Procedures. To assure that the quality of data being reported by each state and territory is adequate, CSTE and the CDC collaborate to create standardized case definitions and surveillance procedures for notifiable diseases. In addition to communicable diseases, which are typically notifiable, CSTE works with both the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to prioritize conditions and risks for national surveillance.

Assessment. CSTE actively seeks to assess and enhance the epidemiologic capabilities of the states and territories. In 2001 and 2004, CSTE surveyed health departments to assess their core epidemiologic capacity and future training needs.

Advice and Expertise. CSTE provides advice and technical support to epidemiologists and also designates surveillance consultants to the CDC and other federal and international agencies.

Membership and Organization

CSTE members include epidemiologists representing 50 states, 8 territories, and Puerto Rico. The organization hosts two types of members. Active members include epidemiologists who currently work for a state, territorial, or a local health department. Associate members include epidemiologists who work in federal health agencies or academia.