After consultation with the county agricultural commissioner or the Director of Agriculture, the local health officer may, upon his determination that pesticide poisoning is serious and that an outbreak in pesticide poisoning or any disease or condition caused by pesticide poisoning has occurred in his county, request assistance by the state department. Upon such request, the director shall provide the local health officer with the necessary staff and technical assistance to conduct an epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak, and where appropriate, shall make recommendation to control or prevent such poisoning outbreaks.