Past Updates from the Clinician Registry Listserv

Update Sent November 05, 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:

• Public Health Preparedness
• Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Journal
• Seasonal Influenza
• Avian Influenza
• Wildfire Response
• Meningococcal Vaccine
• Food Safety
• Travelers' Health

Public Health Preparedness

United States, Canada and Mexico Agree to Mutual Assistance - HHS Press Release - Nov. 1
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Ministry of Health of the United Mexican States today agreed to strengthen cross-border coordination and cooperation in the surveillance, prevention, and control of infectious diseases. In the Memorandum of Understanding, all three countries agree to cooperate to improve their public health emergency preparedness and response efforts in activities such as border health, laboratory testing, diagnosis and treatment, epidemiological investigation, and the control of infectious diseases.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2007pres/11/pr20071101a.html

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Journal

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Journal - November 2007
The Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) journal provides recognition of new and re-emerging infections and understanding of factors involved in disease emergence, prevention, and elimination. It also represents the scientific communications component of CDC's efforts against the threat of emerging infections. See the November 2007 issue of the EID journal at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/index.htm. 

Seasonal Influenza

National Influenza Vaccination Week: Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 2007 - Nov. 2
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the week after Thanksgiving as National Influenza Vaccination Week.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm

ACIP-VFC Vaccine Resolutions - Influenza - PDF file - Oct. 29
The purpose of this resolution is to revise the previous resolution to add the expanded age indication for the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/downloads/resolutions/1007influenza.pdf

Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update - Nov. 2
During week 43 (October 21-27, 2007), a low level of influenza activity was reported in the United States. Thirty-three (2.6%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was below the epidemic threshold. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) was below national and region-specific baseline levels. Two states reported local activity, 14 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported sporadic influenza activity; and 34 states reported no influenza activity.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Weekly US Map - Oct. 27
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza - situation in Indonesia - WHO update - Oct. 31
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 3-year-old male from the Tangerang District, Banten Province developed symptoms on 14 October. The case has recovered. The investigation found that there were poultry deaths in the case's household prior to his onset of symptoms. The case was living in the same district but had no contact with the previously confirmed 5-year-old female. Of the 111 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 89 have been fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_10_31/en/index.html

Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO - Oct.  31 http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/ 

Wildfire Response

Free Breathing Masks Available to S. Californians - FEMA Press Release- Nov. 1
The CA Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced the availability of free breathing masks for Southern Californians to use while cleaning up ash around their home or business. The masks will be available at any of the nine local assistance centers. State and public health officials recommend that anyone cleaning up ash from around their home or spending time in ash-covered areas wear at a minimum a well-fitted paper mask or bandana to protect their nose and mouth.
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41558

Meningococcal Vaccine

ACIP-VFC Vaccine Resolutions- Meningococcal Vaccine - PDF file - Oct. 29
The purpose of this resolution is to add the expanded age indication for meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4).
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/downloads/resolutions/1007mening-mcv.pdf

Food Safety

Investigation of Outbreak of Human Infections Caused by E. coli O157:H7  - Nov. 1
The CDC and The Tennessee State Department of Health are collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in humans. As of November 1st, at least 21 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 with an indistinguishable genetic fingerprint have been collected from ill persons in 10 states. Eating a Totino's or Jeno's brand frozen pizza containing pepperoni was significantly associated with illness. The source of contamination of the pizzas is not known at this time.
http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2007/october/103107.html

Travelers' Health

Update on the Global Status of Polio - Nov. 1
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), only 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) remain polio-endemic, an all-time low.Vaccination is recommended for all travelers to polio-endemic or -epidemic areas. These areas include Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentPolioOutbreaks.aspx 

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