The origins of modern public health can be traced back to infectious disease epidemics of now uncommon diseases such as cholera, plague, and leprosy.1 As these diseases were controlled through a combination of improved sanitation and hygiene, the discovery of antibiotics, and vaccination programs, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes became increasingly prevalent over the 20th century. In 1900, the three leading causes of death were pneumonia and influenza; tuberculosis; and gastritis, enteritis, and colitis. These diseases accounted for nearly one-third of all deaths. Today, heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the three leading causes of death, accounting for almost two-thirds of all deaths. These and other chronic diseases are characterized by a complex interaction of risk factors, a non-contagious origin, a long latent period between risk factor exposure and clinical occurrence of disease, a long period of illness, and multiple risk factor etiology. 2Among the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, five relate directly to the prevention of chronic diseases: 3• Control of work-related health problems, such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) and silicosis;• Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke;• Development of and access to safer and healthier foods;• Fluoridation of drinking water to prevent tooth decay;• Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard and subsequent public health anti-smoking campaigns.Due to their ability to assess a public health problem, develop an appropriate program or policy, and assure that programs and policies are effectively delivered and implemented, 4 state and local public health departments are in unique positions to control chronic diseases. 5,6 But public health agencies face several challenges in developing and implementing chronic disease control programs. First, chronic diseases are often not seen as a crisis and the "pay-off" for prevention efforts occurs in future years. Second, the public often shows

State Health Agencies play a critical role in the Nation's efforts for health promotion and disease prevention. This role is especially critical in efforts to reduce the burden of CVD through community-based programs. Resources SHAs need to facilitate implementation of community-based CVD prevention programs fall into three general categories: (a) Adequate time to plan, carry out and evaluate, (b) Financial resources to support staff, community organization and demonstration programs, and (c) Personnel with requisite technical expertise, skills and technological resources. Six critical activities for building state-level CVD program capacity include: (1) Forming a statewide CVD oversight committee, (2) Developing a state CVD plan, (3) Developing quality assurance standards and guidelines, (4) Developing new paradigms of community assessment and evaluation, (5) Planning for institutionalization, and (6) Translation of research to application. SHA roles vary from direct service delivery to serving as a linking agent, transferring information and resources and coordinating efforts between agencies.

Some major epidemiologic features of Reye syndrome have been elucidated since the first description of this clinical entity. Multiple studies have shown an association with epidemic influenza B and endemic varicella. Little population data are available on age, sex, race, geographic distribution, and secular trends. A five-year retrospective population-based study of 190 Ohio residents diagnosed with Reye syndrome from January 1, 1973-December 31, 1977, is reported here. The temporal relationships between the occurrence of Reye syndrome and influenza B and varicella were confirmed; however, a high number of blacks and city dwellers with Reye syndrome were found in this study.

This paper explores how, through its extensive network of partners, the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership (National Partnership) has provided a robust array of trainings, learning institutes, webinars, workshops, mentorship programs, and direct technical assistance to comprehensive cancer control programs and coalitions over the past 20 years. Mapping these activities to specific cancer control competencies revealed that the efforts of the National Partnership adequately address the core competencies necessary for an effective workforce and have the potential to increase practitioner capacity to adopt and implement evidence-based cancer control programs. Ensuring the continued availability and uptake of these tools, trainings and partnerships could potentially address gaps and barriers in the public health workforce related to evidence-based practice.

Much of the epidemiology of Reye syndrome is still not well understood, particularly in the age group <1 year of age. Huttenlocher and Trauner1 recently reported the clinical findings in a series of patients <6 months of age. They noted that a disproportionate number of infants came from lower socioeconomic areas. A 1973 to 1977 epidemiologic study of Reye syndrome in Ohio by the Ohio State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has shown different age-specific attack rates for black children and for white children.2 Although the overall attack rates of Reye syndrome for black and for white children were not significantly different, among children <1 year old, black children had a rate of Reye syndrome approximately eight times the rate for whites.