May 6, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. RR–4
Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2011: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc.


Health risks such as infectious diseases, exposure to rabies, and injuries are associated with contact with animals in public settings, including county or state fairs, petting zoos, animal swap meets, pet stores, zoologic institutions, circuses, carnivals, educational farms, livestock-birthing exhibits, educational exhibits at schools and child-care facilities, and wildlife photo opportunities. Washing hands is the most important prevention step to reduce the risk for disease transmission associated with animals in public settings. Other recommendations include prohibiting food in animal areas, including transition areas between animal areas and nonanimal areas, providing information about disease risk and prevention to visitors, and proper care of animals.

May 6, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. SS–5
Surveillance for Traumatic Brain Injury–Related Deaths — United States,1997–2007

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. During 1997–2007, an annual average of 53,014 deaths among U.S. residents were associated with TBIs. During this period, overall TBI-related death rates decreased 8.2%; by age group, the rates decreased among persons aged ≤44 years but increased among those aged ≥75 years. Firearm- (34.8%), motor-vehicle– (31.4%), and fall-related TBIs (16.7%) were the leading causes of TBI-related death. Rates of TBI-related deaths were higher among young and older adults and certain minority populations.

June 25, 2010 / Vol. 57 / No. 54
Summary of Notifiable Diseases — United States, 2008

The Health-care providers in the United States are required to report certain infectious diseases to a specified state or local authority. A disease is designated as notifiable if timely information about individual cases is considered necessary for prevention and control of the disease. Each year, CDC publishes a summary of the cases of notifiable disease reported for the most recent year for which data is available. This report presents a summary of notifiable diseases for 2008. The Summary is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_nd/index.html. This site also includes publications from previous years.

April 15, 2011 / Vol. 60 / Supplement
Guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency --- CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories

These guidelines for biosafety laboratory competency outline the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities required for working with biologic agents at the three highest biosafety levels (BSLs) (levels 2, 3, and 4). The competencies are tiered to a worker’s experience at three levels: entry level, midlevel (experienced), and senior level (supervisory or managerial positions). These guidelines are intended for laboratorians working with hazardous biologic agents, obtained from either samples or specimens that are maintained and manipulated in clinical, environmental, public health, academic, and research laboratories.