COCA Email Updates: October 24 – November 07, 2011

Additional Resources

CDC Emergency on Twitter
CDC Health Partners Outreach Facebook Page
COCA Home Page

COCA News and Announcements

Update on Influenza Vaccination for Health Care Personnel: Recent Coverage, Recommendations, Reporting and Resources
Date/Time: November 15, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Webinar audio by phone or Web
Call Number: 888-324-7813
Passcode: 5531691
Register
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommend that all HCP get vaccinated annually against influenza. Join us for this COCA call where CDC subject matter experts will review the recent coverage data, current recommendations, improvements for reporting, and provide resources for clinician education and influenza vaccine promotion.

COCA Calls/Webinars Available Online – CE Credit Available
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available on the COCA Web site. Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, and CECH) are available for most COCA calls.

Return to Top of Page

CDC News and Announcements

CDC Science Clips– November 2 (CDC)
This series features top scientific articles, selected on the basis of potential for population impact and practical implementation.
Preparedness and response highlights in this issue include:

Return to Top of Page

Public Health Preparedness

The Pediatric Emergency Mass Critical Care Task Force, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and convened by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, developed a set of recommendations addressing the unique needs of children during disasters. These recommendations will be published as a supplement to the journal Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and online in the journal Critical Care Medicine. Beginning November 4, the supplement can be assessed at www.pccmjournal.org

National Lead Poisoning Prevent Week – Oct 24 (CDC)
Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children, yet an estimated 250,000 U.S. children have elevated blood-lead levels. A simple blood test can prevent permanent damage that will last a lifetime.

Strategic National Stockpile (SNS): What It Means to You – (CDC)
CDC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. Once Federal and local authorities agree that the SNS is needed, medicines will be delivered to any state in the U.S. in time for them to be effective. Each state has plans to receive and distribute SNS medicine and medical supplies to local communities as quickly as possible.

BARDA unveils path forward in the BARDA Strategic Plan 2011 – 2016 – (HHS)
Over the last decade, our nation has responded to deliberate biological attacks – the mailing of anthrax-laden letters – and severe naturally occurring disease outbreaks including SARS and the 2009-H1N1 influenza pandemic. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) issued the BARDA Strategic Plan 2011-2016, which articulates the guiding principles, goals, and strategies it will implement to enhance the capability of the U.S. government to develop medical countermeasures (MCMs) to these and other natural and intentional threats to public health.

BARDA supports development of oral radiation drug – (HHS)
A drug that can be taken orally to treat internal contamination from radiation after a radiological attack will be developed under a new contract issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold – FEMA
Preparing your home, family and vehicle for the upcoming winter season.

Emergency Preparedness and Response (CDC)
Find resources for All Hazards and Specific Hazards preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources Page for Clinicians (CDC)
Find online and in-person training centers and resources at

Return to Top of Page

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

USDA CONSUMER ALERT: Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency – Nov 2 (USDA)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing recommendations to help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses in the wake of heavy snowstorms in the Northeast. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events.

UPDATE: CDC Earthquakes website – Oct 26 (CDC)
In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury from falling objects (and even building collapse) if you immediately: Drop! Cover! Hold On! Surviving an earthquake and reducing its health impact requires preparation, planning, and practice. Far in advance, you can gather emergency supplies, identify and reduce possible hazards in your home, and practice what to do during and after an earthquake. Learning what actions to take can help you and your family to remain safe and healthy in the event of an earthquake.

UPDATE:Hurricane Health and Safety Tip – Oct 24 (CDC)
Clean up supplies you will need after a hurricane - Bring rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles with you when you evacuate. They will protect you from contaminated flood waters when you return after the storm.

Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning After a Disaster – CDC

Return to Top of Page

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID))

EID is prepared by the CDC. Vol 17, Number 11 – November 2011

Fatal Infectious Diseases during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Outbreak

Return to Top of Page

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR weekly reports and publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically Subscribe
2011 Online Issues
November 4, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 43 Download .pdf document of this issue

November 4, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. RR--6 / Pg. 1 - 15

Return to Top of Page

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Weekly Flu View – Nov 4 (CDC)
During week 43, 6.5% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to pneumonia and influenza. This percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 6.7% for week 43.

Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – Nov 1 (CDC)
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.

ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII FOUND GROWING IN NEARLY HALF OF INFECTED PATIENT ROOMS – Nov 1 (ACIP)
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) was found in the environment of 48 percent of the rooms of patients colonized or infected with the pathogen, according to a new study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

FDA Updated Communication on Use of Jet Injectors with Inactivated Influenza Vaccines – Oct 26 (FDA)
The FDA is clarifying its October 21, 2011, communication to inform the public that inactivated influenza vaccines labeled for IM injection are intended for administration using a sterile needle and syringe. There is one inactivated influenza vaccine labeled for ID administration, this vaccine is supplied in its own pre-filled syringe.

Preventing Seasonal Flu With Vaccination – CDC
This page provides resources that will help you with your decision to get vaccinated.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals – CDC
This year’s recommendations are issued in a shortened format because there are relatively few changes from the 2010-2011 recommendations.

Influenza Virus Vaccine for the 2011 - 2012 Season – (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.

Return to Top of Page

Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings – Nov 4 (US Department of State)
Currently, travel warnings are in effect for 33 countries. Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country, or when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.

Business Travel – CDC
Business travelers face different health risks than do leisure travelers. Find out some of the risks of business travel and what you can do to protect yourself.

Return to Top of Page

Food, Drug and Device Safety

Investigation Update: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, CO – Nov 2 (CDC)
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states, including Colorado, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.

Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Turkish Pine Nuts – Oct 26 (CDC)
CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in New York and other states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to Turkish pine nuts purchased from bulk bins at Wegmans grocery stores.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Network – Oct 25
Consumer Safety Information on the Recalled Whole Cantaloupes by Jensen Farms

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – Nov 4 (HHS/UDSA/FDA/CDC/NIH)
For recalls and alerts by both FDA and USDA, or to report a problem or make inquiries, visit FoodSafety.gov.

FDA Issues Guidance on Determining Safety of Flood-Affected Food Crops – Oct 24 (FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) issued guidance to the food industry on evaluating the safety of flood-affected crops intended for human consumption.

Return to Top of Page

The CDC and HHS logos are the exclusive property of the Department of Health and Human Services and may not be used for any purpose without prior express written permission. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organizations.

Return to Top of Page