title: Prevention and surveillance of public health risks during extended mass gatherings in rural areas: the experience of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and evaluate the public health response to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, an annual extended mass gathering in rural New South Wales, Australia; and to propose a framework for responding to similar rural mass gatherings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Process evaluation by direct observation, archival analysis and focus group discussion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The various components of the public health response to the 2011 Tamworth Country Music Festival were actively recorded. An archival review of documentation from 2007 to 2010 was performed to provide context. A focus group was also conducted to discuss the evolution of the public health response and the consequences of public health involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Public health risks increased with increasing duration of the rural mass gathering. Major events held within the rural mass gathering further strained resources. The prevention, preparedness, response and recovery principles provided a useful framework for public health actions. Particular risks included inadequately trained food preparation volunteers functioning in poorly equipped temporary facilities, heat-related ailments and arboviral disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended mass gatherings in rural areas pose particular public health challenges; surge capacity is limited and local infrastructure may be overwhelmed in the event of an acute incident or outbreak. There is value in proactive public health surveillance and monitoring. Annual mass gatherings provide opportunities for continual systems improvement. Early multi-agency planning can identify key risks and identify opportunities for partnership. Special consideration is required for major events within mass gatherings.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Officer Training Program, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Locked Mail Bag 961, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia. bpolk@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Polkinghorne
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Durrheim
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
mesh_terms: D003441:Crowding; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008399:Mass Behavior; D009146:Music; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D012308:Risk Management; D012423:Rural Health; D013997:Time Factors