Past Updates from the Clinician Registry Listserv

Update Sent January 12, 2009

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.

The following updates were made to CDC information and guidance from January 5-12, 2009. If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov.

Today's topics Include:

Emergency Preparedness
Seasonal Influenza
Pandemic Influenza
Food Safety
Infection Control
Travelers' Health

Emergency Preparedness

The following resources may be most useful to those in the National Capital Region during the events surrounding the January 20th Presidential Inauguration. The resources may also be useful for future large gathering events in other areas.

District of Columbia - 2009 Presidential Inauguration - Jan. 9 - District of Columbia
This site will assist you in finding valuable information about the events surrounding the 56th Presidential Inauguration, including lodging information, transportation, security measures and closures.
http://www.inauguration.dc.gov/index.asp

HHS Advises Inauguration Attendees to Prepare to Avoid Cold-Weather Related Health Problems - Jan. 12 - HHS
As part of the extensive preparation for the presidential inauguration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reminds attendees to plan ahead to prevent cold-weather related health problems.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/01/20090112a.html
Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety - CDC
PDF - http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/pdf/cold_guide.pdf

Keep It With You: Personal Medical Information Form - Jan. 9 - CDC
Although the “Keep It With You” (KIWY) Personal Medical Information Form was designed for people who need care during disasters and similar situations, the tool helps individuals maintain concise personal medical records by listing medications, medical conditions, and other health related information. It is important for health care workers to have a simple and reliable way to learn information about past and new health concerns for people receiving help.
http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/kiwy.asp

Handling of Suspicious Packages or Envelopes - Jan. 12 - CDC
CDC developed the following guidelines for recognizing and handling suspicious mail packages. The general guidance provided is also noteworthy for handling unattended packages.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/mail/suspiciouspackages.asp

Surveillance for Early Detection of Disease Outbreaks at an Outdoor Mass Gathering — Virginia, 2005 - Jan. 2006 - CDC MMWR
Implementing public health surveillance at mass gatherings might help detect outbreaks or possible acts of biologic terrorism and enable prompt public health intervention.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5503a3.htm

Half-a-Million Strong: The Emergency Medical Services Response to a Single-Day, Mass-Gathering Event - 2004 - University of Wisconsin
Emergency medical services (EMS) responses to mass gatherings
have been described frequently, but there are few reports describing
the response to a single-day gathering of large magnitude.
PDF - http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu/19-4%20PDFs/Feldman.pdf

Seasonal Influenza

Antiviral Resistance Among Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses and Interim Guidance for Antivirals - Jan. 8 - CDC COCA
This conference call presented by Capt. Anthony Fiore, MD MPH discusses: influenza testing and treatment; current status of antiviral resistance in United States; Interim guidelines for antiviral use; and a look ahead

Seasonal Influenza Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update - Jan. 9 - CDC
During week 53 (December 28, 2008 – January 3, 2009), influenza activity in the United States remained at approximately the same level as in the previous week.

Seventy-nine (3.2%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was below national and region-specific baseline levels.
Four states reported regional activity; 11 states reported local influenza activity; the District of Columbia and 30 states reported sporadic influenza activity; and five states reported no influenza activity.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Weekly US Map - Jan 5 - CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

2008-2009 Flu Vaccines: Lot Release Status - Jan. 9 - FDA
Flu vaccine lots that have been released by FDA and are available for distribution by the manufacturers. For information on flu vaccine distribution schedules, please contact the manufacturers directly.
http://www.fda.gov/cber/flu/flu2008.htm

Pandemic Influenza

Sixth Pandemic Planning Update Report - HHS - Jan. 9
This is the sixth update from the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the state of pandemic influenza preparedness in the US.

Food Safety

Investigation of Outbreak of Infections Caused by Salmonella Typhimurium 2008-2009 - Jan. 8 - CDC
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typh0109/010809.html?s_cid=ccu011209_FoodSafety1e

King Nut Issues Peanut Butter Recall - Jan. 10 - FDA
King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter manufactured for them by Peanut Corporation of America, today announced a recall of peanut butter distributed under the King Nut label. No other King Nut products are included in this recall. King Nut took this action as soon as it was informed that salmonella had been found in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter.
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kingnut01_09.html

Infection Control

Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections - Jan. 6 - HHS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate health care-associated infections (HAIs). Health care-associated infections are infections that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures. These infections are largely preventable.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/01/20090106a.html

CDC Study: Failures to Follow Infection Practices Have Placed More than 60,000 Patients at Risk for Hepatitis B and C - Jan. 6 - Annals of Internal Medicine
In the last decade, more than 60,000 patients in the United States were asked to get tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) because health care personnel in settings outside hospitals failed to follow basic infection control practices, according to a new study by the CDC.
CDC Press Release
Article Abstract

Travelers' Health

Updated Yellow Fever Vaccination Recommendations for Brazil - Jan. 5 - CDC
The Brazilian Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently announced changes to its areas of risk for yellow fever transmission and vaccination recommendations.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowFeverBrazil.aspx

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