METHODS: ISDH staff frequently co-author MMWR reports with embedded members of the CDC’s Epidemiology Intelligence Service, but rarely submit MMWR reports for publication on their own. Using a template provided by the CDC and a previously published article for guidance, ISDH colleagues and I drafted an MMWR article describing the HIV outbreak and submitted it to CDC for clearance. The CDC clearance process was exhaustive for this high impact MMWR report, involving multiple Divisions at the CDC and over a dozen revisions. Working closely with CDC experts in HIV, STD, and Hepatitis C, and ISDH HIV/STD epidemiology staff, the report moved from inception to publication in under 3 weeks, with updates made just 12 hours before its release. This rapid review process by experts at CDC provided a respected platform for the timely release of important public health information.
RESULTS: An early release MMWR article describing the most current information available was published on April 24, 2015, followed by a national press conference held jointly with the CDC and ISDH leadership. As a result of this publication, I continue to receive requests for information and have had the opportunity to present at several meetings. I have also made important contacts in other states and at the federal level. This MMWR report has already recorded two citations in PubMed since its publication and dozens of news reports.
CONCLUSIONS: Publishing findings from the state or local level in MMWR is an effective mechanism for sharing relevant information in a respected scientific publication with a broad audience in a timely manner. It also provides a forum for state and local public health employees to connect with experts at CDC. Finally, it establishes a point of contact at the information source for other state and local public health employees who are interested in learning more about the reported findings.