Joe Russell, Flathead County’s health officer, has been tapped as a speaker for the Seventh Dubai International Food Safety Conference.

Russell leaves today on the trip paid for by the United Arab Emirates. Along with serving as one of 25 featured speakers, Russell will provide three days of food-safety training at the conference.

He made the announcement during his officer’s report at the February meeting of the Flathead City-County Board of Health.

Russell said he was tapped just days ago to fill a last-minute environmental health vacancy among a contingent of experts affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control.

In recent years, Russell has developed a national reputation in the area of food-borne illness prevention through his work with national organizations such as the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

He serves as the chairman of the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response, a national working group representing 11 agencies and organization.

Russell said he would speak in Dubai about food safety inspections, investigative techniques to trace back illness and complaint-driven investigations. He said the team going to Dubai has been working to improve responses to food-borne illnesses.

Board members expressed support for his trip, calling the invitation an honor. Duane Larson said the board’s personnel committee had discussed his trip and encouraged him to go.

“I’m very proud that you are going,” said board member Joan Lanfear, a nurse practitioner.

Dr. David Myerowitz said that the board needs to revive discussions of creating an assistant health officer position within the department budget to fill in during Russell’s travel.

After the meeting, Russell characterized the Emirates as a “very progressive” government in seeking to better food safety. This marks the fifth year that the Centers for Disease Control has sent representatives to the conference.

He said the trip involves a 14-hour flight out of Atlanta. Russell returns to work on Feb. 29.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.