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COCA Email Updates: October 8 - October 22, 2012

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: October 22, 2012 COCA Email Update Learn more about Adobe Acrobat Reader (223 Kb, 5 pages)


COCA News and Announcements

Recent COCA Call/Webinar:

Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation Update: Information and Guidance for Clinicians
Date: Tuesday, October 16, 2012
During this COCA Call, subject matter experts provided updates to the current epidemiology of the outbreak, described clinical presentation and features of fungal meningitis, and reviewed CDC’s recommended treatment guidance.

Additional archived COCA Conference Calls  
Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, CECH, and AAVSB/RACE) are available for most COCA calls.


CDC Emergency Response – Multistate Meningitis Outbreak Investigation

UPDATED: Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation – October 21 (CDC)
CDC and FDA are coordinating a multi-state investigation of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection. Investigation into the exact source is ongoing; however, interim data show that all infected patients received injection with preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) prepared by New England Compounding Center, located in Framingham, MA.

Updated: Clinician Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions For Clinicians: Multistate Meningitis Outbreak Investigation – October 15 (CDC)

What Should Physicians Be Doing? - October 16 (CDC)

CDC Health Alert Network (HAN): Update: Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Joint Infections Associated with Contaminated Steroid Medications – October 17 (CDC)

Interim Treatment Guidance for Central Nervous System and/or Parameningeal Infections Associated with Injection of Potentially Contaminated Steroid ProductsOctober 16 (CDC)

Interim Treatment Guidance for Septic Arthritis Associated With Injection of Potentially Contaminated Steroid Products – October 15 (CDC)

Interim Guidance for Management of Asymptomatic Persons Exposed to Potentially Contaminated Steroid Products – October 14 (CDC)

Case Definitions for Meningitis and Septic Arthritis – October 16 (CDC)

Diagnostic Testing for Septic Arthritis and Specimen Submission to CDC – Outbreak Associated with Injection of Potentially Contaminated Steroid ProductsOctober 16 (CDC)

Diagnostic Testing and Specimen Shipping for Central Nervous System and Parameningeal Infections – October 19 (CDC)


CDC News and Announcements

Did You Know?
“Did You Know?” is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to highlight prevention activities. The series features research and program activity from CDC. Please access, use, and share this information broadly with your colleagues and partners.

CDC Science Clips: Volume 4, Issue: 41 – October 15 (CDC)
Each week select science clips are shared with the public health community to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge. The focus is applied public health research and prevention science that has the capacity to improve health now.


Public Health Preparedness

Public Health Matters Blog – Can Your Pet Sense Disasters? – October 15 (CDC)
The idea that animals can predict earthquakes and other natural disasters is not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been exploring this topic for years, investigating whether animals possess a sixth sense that allows them to predict natural disasters.

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

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

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Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – (CDC)

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Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Journal

EID is prepared by the CDC.  EID Home Page
Volume 18, Number 11 – October 2012
Highlights in this issue include


Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. To electronically subscribe, go to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html.

October 19, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 41 Download .pdf document of this issue

October 12, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 40 Download .pdf document of this issue

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Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Weekly Flu View(CDC)
This is a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by CDC Influenza Division. All data are preliminary and may change as CDC receives more reports.

Update: 2012 West Nile VirusOctober 16 (CDC)
As of October 16, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 4,531 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 183 deaths, have been reported to CDC.

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Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings – October 21 (US Department of State)
Travel 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. A Travel Warning is also issued 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.

Outbreak Notice – Malaria in Greece – October 19 (CDC)
Cases of malaria continue to be reported in Greece. No cases have been reported in Athens. The Hellenic (Greek) CDC and the European CDC are improving surveillance for malaria cases. In affected areas, mosquito control has been intensified, health care providers have been educated, and the public has been informed.

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Food, Drug and Device Safety

NEW: FDA Statement on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Additional Patient Notification AdvisedOctober 18 (CDC)
CDC and FDA have confirmed the presence of a fungus known as Exserohilum rostratum in unopened medication vials of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) from one of the three implicated lots from New England Compounding Center (NECC). A Patient Notification Letter on the FDA "Update on Fungal Meningitis" webpage under the "Related Information" section, is available for healthcare professionals notifying patients administered a drug produced by the NECC that has been recalled.

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – (HHS/USFDA)
Your FDA gateway for clinically important safety information and reporting serious problems with human medical products.

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – October 22 (HHS/UDSA/FDA/CDC/NIH)
For recalls and alerts by both FDA and USDA, or to report a problem or make inquiries.

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The Emergency Risk Communication Branch (ERCB) Clinician Communication Team works to enhance partners’ knowledge of emerging threats and their effects on human populations, and to provide relevant, timely information to help manage these threats by developing and maintaining mechanisms for communication. The Clinician Communication Team is responsible for the management of all COCA products.

For information on this and other clinical issues or to send your feedback please contact us at coca@cdc.gov

ERCB offers a variety of free tools and resources to help you enhance your knowledge of emergency preparedness and response:


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.

  • Page last updated October 23, 2012
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