The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new voluntary reporting system designed to track harmful algal blooms (HABs) and associated illnesses across the U.S. The One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS) is a voluntary system that “collects data on individual human and animal cases of illnesses from HAB-associated exposures, as well as environmental data about HABs [with the goal of supporting the] understanding and prevention of HABs and HAB-associated illnesses.”
Water utility officials or any members of the general public wishing to report HAB-related illnesses or events should contact their local public health officials (or their designated partners in the environmental and animal health communities) who have access for reporting to OHHABS.