Some residents will soon begin receiving calls for phase two of the Department of Health’s study on the Burden of Illness.Over the next two weeks, more than 600 households will be contacted by trained interviewers and asked about any episodes of diarrhoea and vomiting (gastroenteritis) and any associated risk factors.It’s all part of a global initiative into the financial impact of the illnesses and the burdens they cause, by the World Health Organisation. Diarrhoea is a significant and preventable cause of sickness and death worldwide.The identity and addresses of participants will not be known to the interviewers. The results will assist in ensuring the development of health intervention strategies and programmes, and contribute to the general strengthening of the communicable disease surveillance system.More than 400 people were interviewed in the first phase of this study.Health Minister Zane DeSilva said: “For this study to be a success I am encouraging all residents to assist interviewers with their questions if called upon to do so and be forthcoming with information.”The Minister added: “I am also asking physicians to advocate for the study by encouraging patients to report gastrointestinal illnesses and by obtaining samples from patients with gastroenteritis.”Currently there is limited information on the magnitude and burden of gastroenteritis and the key pathogens responsible for it in Bermuda and the Caribbean, which is why CAREC is leading the study in selected countries, including Bermuda.The results of this study should be available for publication in December 2012.