Past Updates from the Clinician Registry Listserv

Update Sent February 20, 2007

NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only and may not provide our most accurate and up-to-date information. The most current Clinician's information can be found on the Clinician Home Page.

Today's topics include:

• COCA Conference Call - Traveler's Health

• Food Safety Threats

• Avian Influenza

• Pandemic Influenza

• Influenza

• Emergency Preparedness

COCA Conference Call: Traveler's Health

Please join us for today's COCA Conference Call on traveler's health issues.

Title: Travel Medicine: The Pre-Travel Consultation
Speaker: Gary W. Brunette, MD, MS
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET

Dial-in Number: 888-831-6084
Passcode: Traveler

Objectives for this call are for medical providers to understand:

• The extent of US travel abroad
• Morbidity and mortality in travelers
• Importance of pre-travel consultation
• Elements of the pre-travel consultation
  • Risk assessment of patients
    • Patient history
    • Itinerary
  • Risk management of patients
    • Risk communications
    • Individualized care plan
    • Vaccines
    • Prophylactic medications
    • Counseling

Dr. Gary Brunette is a medical epidemiologist on the Travelers' Health team at the CDC. He previously served as a medical officer in the US Navy where he was also involved in preparing travelers for international destinations.

For more information and the presentation slides, please go to the COCA website: www.bt.cdc.gov/coca.

Food Safety Threats

Update on Salmonella Outbreak and Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter - FDA News Release - February 16
On February 14, 2007, FDA advised consumers not to eat any Peter Pan peanut butter purchased since May 2006 and not to eat Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with "2111" purchased since May 2006 because of risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01565.html

Salmonellosis - Outbreak Investigation, February 2007 - February 15
Public health officials in multiple states, with the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella Tennessee infections. Interviews comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons show that consumption of Peter Pan peanut butter was statistically associated with illness and therefore the most likely source of the outbreak. Although the study did not specifically implicate Great Value brand peanut butter, it is manufactured in the same plant as Peter Pan peanut butter and therefore is believed to be at similar risk of contamination. As of February 15th at 3PM EST, 290 persons with Salmonella Tennessee, the Salmonella type associated with this outbreak, have been reported to CDC from 39 states.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/salmonellosis_2007/outbreak_notice.htm

South Carolina Firm Recalls Chicken Breast Strips For Possible Listeria Contamination - USDA News Release - February 18
Carolina Culinary Foods, a West Columbia, S.C., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 52,650 pounds of fully cooked chicken breast strips that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_012_2007_Release/index.asp

Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza - Situation in Egypt - Update 6 - February 19
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratory and by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3). The 5-year-old boy from Sharkia Governorate was admitted to hospital with symptoms on 14 February, and his condition remains stable. The boy was exposed to sick birds one week prior to the onset of symptoms. Contacts of the boy remain healthy and have been placed under close observation. Of the 22 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have been fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_02_19/en/index.html

Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO - February 19
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2007_02_19/en/index.html

H5N1 Outbreaks Confirmed Near Moscow - February 19
The Russian Agriculture Ministry confirmed Tuesday that a poultry farm in southern Russia had been hit by an outbreak of bird flu.
OIE notification by Russian authorities
CIDRAP News
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/avianflu/news/feb1907russia.html 

Pandemic Influenza

Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States - February 13
New CDC guidance for social distancing strategies to reduce contact between people. Developed through a collaborative process that included public health officials, mathematical modelers, researchers, and stakeholders from government, academia, private industry, education, and civic and faith-based organizations.
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/mitigation.html

Influenza

Update: Influenza Activity --- United States, October 1, 2006--February 3, 2007 - MMWR Report - February 16
Update: Influenza Activity --- United States, October 1, 2006--February 3, 2007 This report summarizes U.S. influenza activity since the beginning of the 2006--07 influenza season (October 1, 2006) and updates the previous summary (1). Low levels of influenza activity were reported from October through early December. Activity increased from mid-December through the end of the year, declined slightly in early January, and then increased again in mid-January.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5606a3.htm

Influenza Symptoms, Protection, and What to Do If You Get Sick - Updated February 14
Fact sheet describing common flu symptoms, how to protect yourself and those close to you from getting the flu, and what to do if you get sick with flu-like symptoms.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm

Antiviral Drugs and Influenza - Updated February 14
This document provides updated information about antiviral drugs and influenza.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/index.htm

Infection Control Guidance for the Prevention and Control of Influenza in Acute-Care Facilities - Updated February 13
This document provides general guidance for prevention and control of influenza transmission in acute-care facilities. Links to recommendations for the 2006-07 influenza season are provided.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/healthcarefacilities.htm

Infection Control Measures for Preventing and Controlling Influenza Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities - Updated February 13
This document provides general guidance for prevention and control of influenza transmission in long-term care facilities. Links to recommendations for the 2006-07 influenza seasons are provided.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/longtermcare.htm

Questions and Answers: Information for Schools - Updated February 13
The following document provides some answers to questions commonly asked by school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/qa.htm

Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update - February 20

During week 6 (February 4 - February 10, 2007), influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. Among specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories for influenza, 26.9% were positive. ILI data was above baseline for week 6. Nineteen states reported widespread influenza activity; 14 states reported regional influenza activity; 12 states and New York City reported local influenza activity; five states and the District of Columbia reported sporadic influenza activity; and two states did not report. The reporting of widespread or regional influenza activity increased from 28 states for week 5 to 33 states for week 6. The percent of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza remained below baseline level.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Weekly US Map - February 20
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

Emergency Preparedness

Response to a Ricin Incident - PDF File - February 15
Guidelines for Federal, State, and Local Public Health and Medical Officials.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/pdf/ricin_protocol.pdf

 

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