WV DHHR Rapid Response Team Grant Funding

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West Virginia Rapid Response Team Project Summary The primary objective of the West Virginia Rapid Response Team (WVRRT) is to provide effective and efficient multi-agency responses to all-hazards as they relate to food and feed emergencies which impact West Virginia. Secondary objectives include continuing to build on existing relationships with other entities. Success in achieving WVRRT’s objectives will be accomplished by strengthening our bonds with all involved with response to food or feed emergencies, along with training, data sharing/analysis and transparency in communications with our partners at the Federal, State, Local and Industry levels. WVRRT project focuses on establishing food sample testing capacities, traceback needs, and recall response. Two sampling exercises will be conducted yearly. Size and scope will vary, but will include Public Health Sanitation field staff, lead food program staff, and Department of Agriculture Food Laboratory personnel. The pathogens of concern for surveillance will be E. coli O157:H7 and Cyclospora. The project will also include local health department personnel for sample collection and for any environmental risk assessments that may be required. The project will include creating just in time training modules for foodborne illness specific pathogens that can be presented virtually and will focus on how to investigate, sample, and assess during a foodborne illness outbreak based on WV DHHR Bureau for Public Health Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation Manual. Sampling projects were chosen due to increased prevalence of Cyclospora in West Virginia during the spring and reoccurring multi-state outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7. The just in time training modules have been included due to needs for more training that was identified during the Cyclospora cluster identified in Spring of 2020.