COCA Email Updates: February 15 - 28, 2011
If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov
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Available for download: February 28, 2011 COCA Email Update
COCA News and Announcements
COCA Conference Call(s) Resources
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available on the COCA website. You can get FREE CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, and CECH) for most COCA calls! Simply download the PowerPoint and follow along with the audio file, both of which are posted on the COCA website after a call. Our most recent calls include:
- Engaging Youth in Public Health Preparedness and Response(Jan 27)
- Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program: Promoting the Adoption of Electronic Health Information Technology (Jan 25)
- New Podcast: Radiation Emergency Preparedness Tools: Virtual Community Reception Center(Feb 28)
Current CDC Emergency Response
Cholera Information for Healthcare Professionals
Cholera resources for healthcare professionals addressing diagnosis, testing, treatment, patient care, and prevention.
Additional information and Cholera resources
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
The MMWR series is prepared by the CDC. The data in the weekly MMWR are provisional, based on weekly reports to CDC by state health departments. The following emergency preparedness and response related articles of interest were recently published:
February 25, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 7 Download .pdf of this issue
- Fatal Laboratory-Acquired Infection with an Attenuated Yersinia pestis Strain --- Chicago, Illinois, 2009
- Use of a Registry to Improve Acute Stroke Care --- Seven States, 2005−2009
- Maternal, Pregnancy, and Birth Characteristics of Asians and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders --- King County, Washington, 2003--2008
- Notes from the Field: Two Cases of Human Plague --- Oregon, 2010
- Announcements: Introduction to Public Health Surveillance Course
- Announcements: Release of New WISQARS Cost of Injury Reports
- QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 25--44 Years Reporting Fair or Poor Health, by Sex --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1999--2009
- Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables
February 18, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 6 Download .pdf of this issue
- Community Health Impact of Extended Loss of Water Service --- Alabama, January 2010
- Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Effects Among Hispanic Adults, by Hispanic Subgroup --- United States, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2009
- Potential Transmission of Viral Hepatitis Through Use of Stored Blood Vessels as Conduits in Organ Transplantation --- Pennsylvania, 2009
- Update: Influenza Activity --- United States, October 3, 2010--February 5, 2011
- Notes from the Field: Deaths from Acute Hepatitis B Virus Infection Associated with Assisted Blood Glucose Monitoring in an Assisted-Living Facility --- North Carolina, August--October 2010
- QuickStats: Birth Rates for Teens Aged 15--19 Years, by State --- United States, 2009
- Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables
To electronically subscribe to the MMWR, go to MMWR Subscriptions and enter your email address in the box entitled Get email updates.
MMWR is extending its FREE Continuing Education (CE) offering to reports published in the Weekly Series. To obtain credit, participants must register, log-in and select the relevant activity and type of credit/contract hours. Questions and comments should be submitted to theMMWR CE mailbox.
Infectious Diseases
New Vaccine Recommendations for Adults – CDC (Feb 22)
Each year the U.S. recommended immunization schedule for adults is reviewed by a federal organization that examines research on effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases. Changes in the 2011 recommendations reflect efforts to best protect you and young, vulnerable children you may encounter. The dose and the timing of a relatively new tetanus vaccine for adults, Tdap, have been updated.
FDA Permits Marketing of First Test for Most Common Cause of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks– FDA (Feb 23)
A new test can aid in identifying and containing norovirus outbreaks. The Ridascreen Norovirus 3rd Generation EIA assay is for use when a number of people have simultaneously contracted gastroenteritis and there is a clear avenue for virus transmission, such as a shared location or food.
Summary of Weekly Flu View – CDC (Feb 25)
Influenza activity in the United States remained elevated During week 7 (February 13-19), according to the FluView report. CDC tracks certain key flu indicators over the season. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the fourth consecutive week. Circulating viruses reported were influenza B virus, influenza A (H3) virus, 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and influenza A viruses that were not subtyped.
Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – CDC (Feb 25)
This report is a summary of key influenza-related updates created from regional World Health Organization (WHO) reports, country reports, CDC field staff updates, and other sources. Updates are listed by region.
Healthcare-Associated Infections – CDC (Feb 25)
One in 20 patients will get an infection during medical care in hospitals. This week’s “Did You Know?” feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support focuses on Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI). You can play an important role in your state to reduce HAIs. Link to CDC’s guidelines for implementing the HHS Action Plan for HAI prevention and NHSN to track prevention progress.
Travelers’ Health
Yellow Fever Travel Notice – CDC (Feb 22)
In January 2011, the Ministry of Heath of Côte d’Ivoire (also called the Ivory Coast) and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a yellow fever outbreak in the central and northern districts of Beoumi, Katiola, Seguela, and Mankono. Several cases have been laboratory confirmed as yellow fever, and additional cases, including deaths, are suspected.
CDC’s Yellow Fever Vaccine Course
Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury & Environmental Health
Rates for New Cancer Cases and Deaths by Race/Ethnicity and Sex – CDC (Feb 24)
According to CDC's Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, life expectancy and overall health have improved for most Americans in recent years, but not all Americans have benefited equally. CDC and its partners monitor trends in cancer incidence (diagnosis) and mortality (deaths) to identify which groups are affected disproportionately.
CDC/ATSDR Guidance on the Interpretation and Use of Blood Laboratory Analyses for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – CDC (Feb 25)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently received reports of analyses of VOCs in blood samples from a few Gulf Coast residents, volunteers, or workers. CDC/ATSDR has released This guidance document addresses considerations for laboratory testing and guidance for laboratory blood VOC interpretation.
Community Fact Sheet: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Your Health – CDC (Feb 25)
The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill had a major impact on the environment and communities. This fact sheet focuses on VOCs and the blood tests and potential health effects associated with them. CDC and ATSDR are working with Gulf residents and their doctors to help them understand what test results might mean.
Additional information and resources related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Occupational Safety and Health
Return of Guardsmen and Reservists to the Workforce Suggest Safety, Work Organization Needs – CDC (Feb 15)
As record numbers of National Guardsmen and Reservists return to the civilian workforce from active military duty, they and their employers face challenges that occupational safety and health professionals are uniquely positioned and skilled to address.
Ten Year Review of the NIOSH Radiation Dose Evaluation Program – CDC (Feb 16)
2010 marked the tenth anniversary of the passage of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) of 2000. Given the passage of ten years and the considerable amount of work that has been accomplished by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in support of EEOICPA, the NIOSH Director commissioned a ten year retrospective review of NIOSH’s efforts.
Screening for Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis – CDC (Feb 23)
Beginning in March 2011, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will continue a series of free, confidential health screenings to surface coal miners throughout the U.S. The screenings are intended to provide early detection of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung, a serious but preventable occupational lung disease in coal miners caused by breathing respirable dust.
Food & Drug Safety
Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts – FDA (Feb 23)
Information on recent FDA recalls, market recalls, and safety alerts.
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