COCA Email Updates: April 11–25, 2011

COCA News and Announcements

COCA Conference Call Resources – CE Credit Available
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available on the COCA website. Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, and CECH) are available for most COCA calls. Download the slides and follow along with the audio file, both of which are posted on the COCA website after a call.

COCA Poster Presentation: 2011Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit
Date: May 1 – 5
Location: Grapevine, TX
The Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) will present two posters titled Emergency Risk Communication: Capacity Building for Healthcare Providers during the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill and Building Partnership Coordination: Communicating with Health Partners during Public Health Emergencies.

COCA Home Page

CDC News and Announcements

World Malaria Day (Apr 25)
This year the theme of World Malaria Day—Achieving Progress and Impact—allows the global malaria community to celebrate the last decade’s successes, but first a reminder of today’s events.

CDC Crisis and Emergency Risk Communications (CERC)
Dates: May 10 – 11
Location: New Orleans, LA
CDC’s CERC course serves those who will perform crisis and risk communication and media relations in the event of a public health emergency, when health-related decisions must be made under time constraints, and the timely and planned exchange of information is critical.

CDC Science Clips (Apr 18)
Preparedness and response highlights:

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR series is prepared by the CDC. To electronically subscribe to the MMWR, go to MMWR Subscriptions and enter your email address in the box entitled Get email updates.

April 22, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 15 Download .pdf of this Issue

April 15, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 14 Download .pdf of this Issue
Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Tornadoes
During a tornado, people face hazards from extremely high winds and risk being struck by flying and falling objects. After a tornado, the wreckage left behind poses additional injury risks. Although nothing can be done to prevent tornadoes, there are actions you can take for your health and safety.

Wildfires
Information about preparation, smoke and burn injuries, and emotional well-being, as well as contending with the aftermath of a wildfire.

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Summary of Weekly Flu View – CDC (Apr 22)
Influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity has been decreasing in the United States in recent weeks, however, influenza viruses continue to circulate and cause illness nationwide.

Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – CDC (Apr 15)
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.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) – CDC (Apr 22)
NIIW is an annual celebration of the critical role immunization plays in keeping our children and communities healthy. NIIW 2011 is April 23-30. It is part of a broader, global campaign of "vaccination weeks" in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Occupational Safety and Health

Using Lockout and Tagout Procedures to Prevent Injury and Death during Machine Maintenance – CDC (Apr 14)
Workers are at risk of severe injury and death during machine maintenance and servicing if proper lockout and tagout procedures are not followed. NIOSH recommends developing and implementing a hazardous energy control program.

Travelers’ Health

Current Travel Warnings – US Department of State (Apr 22)
Travel Warnings are in effect for 35 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.

Traveler’s Health Resources and Training for Clinicians – CDC
On-Demand training, travel resources, and video presentations for clinicians.

Food & Drug Safety

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts – FDA (Apr 25)
Information on recent FDA recalls, market recalls, and safety alerts.

Reports of Rare, Potentially Fatal Adverse Effect of use of Benzocaine Sprays for Medical Procedures – FDA
The FDA continues to receive reports of methemoglobinemia, a serious and potentially fatal adverse effect, associated with benzocaine sprays. These sprays are used during medical procedures to numb the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

Reports of Rare, Potentially Fatal Adverse Effect of use of Over-the-Counter Benzocaine for Gums and Mouth – FDA
The FDA is warning the public that the use of benzocaine, the main ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) gels and liquids applied to the gums or mouth to reduce pain, is associated with a rare, but serious condition. This condition is called methemoglobinemia and results in the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream being greatly reduced. In the most severe cases, methemoglobinemia can result in death.

FDA Approves First Meningococcal Vaccine for Infants – FDA (Apr 22)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Menactra in children as young as 9 months for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. Menactra already is approved for use in people ages 2 through 55 years.

FDA Basics: Bad Ads (Apr 20)
Date/Time: April 28, 12:00 p.m. ET
Each month, FDA hosts an online session where the public can ask questions to senior FDA officials about a specific topic or just listen in. This webinar is on the "Bad Ads" Project. Learn how FDA is recruiting the assistance of healthcare professionals to help end misleading drug promotions.

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.

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