Health Department Forms Folder 0065, 1999-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Mr. Cuti -2- July 21, 2000

The success of our diarrheal outbreak detection program has clearly demonstrated that an important indicator of disease occurrence is the sale of certain medications. Since many persons who become ill will visit their pharmacy to purchase over-the- counter medication before pursuing any other medical care (e.g., before seeing their physician), increased drug sales could provide us with the earliest possible warning of a disease outbreak. Recognizing the value of an early warning system using pharmaceutical data, we would like to improve and expand our drug surveillance program to monitor for a wider range of potential disease outbreaks including influenza, waterborne diseases and bioterrorism.

Since your company operates numerous drug stores in the City, we would appreciate your considering participation in this program. This would entail providing us with timely summary statistics on the daily volume sales of specific anti-diarrheal medications and flu or cough/cold remedies. Any data provided would be used solely for public health purposes, and would be handled confidentially.

Your cooperation is voluntary but essential and would represent a valuable civic service. We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, and/or appropriate members of your company, to answer any questions that you may have and to further discuss our possible partnership. Please address your response to this request to Annie Fine, M.D., at the phone number listed below. Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter.

Contact Person: Annie Fine, M.D. Assistant Medical Director Communicable Disease Program New York City Department of Health 125 Worth Street, Room 300, CN-22A New York, New York 10013 (212) 788-9635

NYC-WTC 000138003