Volume 14: Issue 2, 1999

Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced a record increase in the immunization rate for pre-school children and a decline in the incidence of most vaccine-preventable diseases. The National Immunization Survey, an ongoing survey con-ducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assessed the overall immunization rate in 1998 at an all-time high of 80 percent, with cases of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and Haemophilus influenzae type b at near-record lows. The varicella (chickenpox) vaccination rate rose most dramatically—17.3 percent. These findings were reported by CDC in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 

Although vaccines are  one of the most effective tools for preventing disease and death, data show that disparities exist from state  to state and from city to city in the number of children vaccinated. These disparities emphasize that many children still are susceptible to the suffering and death from diseases that are preventable through vaccinations. Anyone with questions about vaccinations should talk to their health provider, or call the National Immunization Hotline at (800) 232-2552 for English or (800) 232-0233 for Spanish.

Eating seed sprouts, such as alfalfa and mung bean, have been associated with numerous out-breaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus, many serotypes of  Salmonella, and multiple other pathogens in the United States and other countries. Children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.

Sprouts present a special risk because the warm and humid conditions involved in growing them are ideal for bacterial growth and occur  shortly before the sprouts are marketed and eaten by  consumers. Contamination, however, can occur at any point, from when the seeds are grown, harvested, and shipped to when they are sprouted and distributed, and bacteria introduced at any  point can grow to high levels without any outward change in the appearance of the sprouts.

Until an effective agent is found to prevent illness caused by raw sprouts, per-sons at high risk for severe complications from these sprout-borne diseases should avoid eating raw  sprouts.

The mission of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is to provide leadership for disease prevention and health promotion among Americans by stimulating and coordinating Federal activities. Prevention Report is a service of ODPHP.

Information appearing in this document does not represent an endorsement by ODPHP. For more information, please contact the sponsoring organization directly. This information is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

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