Participate in the One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS)

Key points

  • CDC's One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) gathers information to better understand harmful algal blooms and prevent associated illnesses.
  • State and territorial health departments report data about harmful algal blooms and related human and animal illnesses in OHHABS.
  • Health departments: Contact OHHABS@cdc.gov to start reporting.
Woman by the lake looking at a phone.

Overview

Health departments in U.S. states and territories are the primary reporters to OHHABS. These health departments work with additional partners to identify harmful algal blooms and human and animal illnesses.

In most cases, health departments report directly to OHHABS. However, they can also designate animal health and environmental health partners to report.

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One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) Reporting Infographic
Many partners help detect and report harmful algal blooms and associated illnesses.
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Reporting

Health departments and their designated partners report in OHHABS by entering information into the One CDC Data Platform (1CDP).

Case definitions and assessments

Before reporting in OHHABS, use the human case or animal case public health assessment tools. These tools help you determine whether a human or animal illness was likely caused by an exposure to a harmful algal bloom.

Use the harmful algal bloom and case definitions to classify events and cases as suspect, probable, or confirmed.

Harmful algal bloom reporting

Use the environmental form to report:

  • Harmful algal blooms in water bodies
  • Information about the most likely food source for foodborne illnesses

You can report harmful algal blooms in OHHABS even if there are no associated human or animal cases of illness.

When reporting human or animal cases, you must report the associated harmful algal bloom.

Human illness reporting

Use the human case form to report individual cases of human illness in OHHABS.

Report all cases of human illness (individual cases and outbreaks) associated with a harmful algal bloom in OHHABS. If multiple people become ill following an exposure to a harmful algal bloom, report in both OHHABS and the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS).

Animal illness reporting

Use the animal case form to report individual or multiple cases of animal illness in OHHABS. Report cases in:

  • Pets such as dogs and cats
  • Livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, and horses
  • Wildlife such as birds, sea lions, fish, and deer

You can report individual animal cases (a single dog, a single sea lion) or groups of ill animals (a fish kill, a herd of cattle, a flock of birds). Where possible, reporting a single case is preferred.

Graphic showing NORS collects aggregate waterborne, foodborne, and enteric disease outbreak data (two or more human illnesses). OHHABS collects harmful algal bloom-associated environmental data, human cases, and animal case data. Both NORS and OHHABS collect harmful algal bloom-associated outbreak data for humans.
Report outbreaks of human illness in both NORS and OHHABS. Report harmful algal bloom events and all associated human and animal illnesses in OHHABS.

Support reporting

Professionals

If you are a public health, environmental health, or animal health professional and want to get access to OHHABS, email OHHABS@cdc.gov.

Healthcare provider or veterinarian

Report illnesses caused by harmful algal blooms to:

Member of the public

Report harmful algal blooms and related illnesses to your local or state health department.

For illnesses, you can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)