COCA Email Updates: September 12 - 26, 2011

COCA News & Announcements Share your preparedness activities on the COCA Facebook page
CDC News & Announcements
Public Health Preparedness
Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease CDC reports 115 vaccine-preventable pediatric flu deaths for 2010
Travel Safety
Food, Drug & Device Safety FDA establishes CORE Network; Salmonella outbreak reported in 32 states.

If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov

Available for download: September 26, 2011 COCA Email Update

Additional Resources

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

COCA News and Announcements

Join our National Preparedness Month Conversation on Facebook
National Preparedness Month provides a great opportunity to share your preparedness activities and interact with other organizations.

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.

COCA Update Back Issues and Archive
Looking for a resource you saw in a COCA Update? Look here.

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CDC News and Announcements

CDC Science Clips – September 19
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:

The association between apolipoprotein E and traumatic brain injury severity and functional outcome in a rehabilitation sample; and
Neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus: target, mechanism of action, and therapeutic potential

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Public Health Preparedness

2011 State-by-State Update Report on Preparedness and Response Activities – September 20 (CDC) The report features national data as well as individual fact sheets with data on activities occurring from 2007 to 2010 in the 50 states and four directly funded localities (Chicago, the District of Columbia, Los Angeles County and New York City) supported by CDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement.

Novel Anthrax Vaccine and Antitoxin Being Developed with Federal Support – September 15 (HHS)
The vaccine being developed under contract could be administered as a spray in the nose and given by non-medical personnel, making administration easier and potentially increasing the number of people who could be vaccinated against this potentially fatal infection.

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

Medical Reserve Corps (HHS/USPHS/USA.gov)
The Medical Reserve Corps provides free training and an opportunity to volunteer for emergency responses and public health initiatives. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Many community members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others—can fill key support positions.

Homeland Security Information Network-and Healthcare and Public Health Portal (HSIN-HPH)
The HSIN-HPH Web portal is a public/private collaboration to protect critical infrastructure. It is the primary means by which the Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services share sensitive but unclassified information with partners. HSIN-HPH users can access information about threats and recovery activities affecting the healthcare and public health communities, report suspicious events, and collaborate with peers in research and strategy. HSIN-HPH is available to qualified members of the HPH community.
To request access: https://connect.hsin.gov/hph/event/registration.html
For questions: cip@hhs.gov

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Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather(CDC)
This page links to resources for various hazards, and includes information for various groups for preparation, response, and recovery.

American Red Cross Shelter and Messaging Service (ARC)
Users of this site can find information about shelters, search the registry for missing persons, or post their own condition and location to reconnect with family.

Coping with Traumatic Events(SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides perspectives on emotional and mental strain that traumatic events such as powerful storms and floods can have.

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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR weekly reports and publications are prepared by the CDC. To electronically subscribe, go to Subscribe to MMWR.

2011 Online Issues
September 23, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 37 Download .pdf of this Issue

September 16, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 36 Download .pdf of this Issue

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Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Weekly Flu View – September 23 (CDC)
During week 37, 6.0% 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 6.4% for week 37.

Flu Season Is Here – Vaccinate to Protect You and Your Loved Ones from Flu – September 19 (CDC)
The best way to protect against influenza is to get a flu vaccine every flu season.

CDC Report Details Influenza Prevention and Treatment for Children and Teens – September 15 (CDC)
Although children and teenagers rarely die from flu–related causes, many deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu, according to this CDC report.

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Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings– September 22 (US Department of State)
Currently, travel warnings are in effect for 34 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.

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Food, Drug and Device Safety

Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – September 24 (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. http://www.foodsafety.gov/index.html

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts – September 23

For information on all recent FDA recalls, market recalls, and safety alerts for food, drugs, and medical devices: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

All FDA Recalls

Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Recalls – September 22 (USDA)
For information on USDA meat, poultry, or processed egg product recalls: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp

All FSIS Recalls

When available, retail distribution lists of recalled items are posted on FSIS' website.

Investigation Update: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, CO – September 21 (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.

Be Food Safe – September 16 (CDC)
Each year, in the US, an estimated 48 million people are sickened, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne illness. Reduce the risk by sharing the rules of food safety.

Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Are Deadly Serious – What You Can Do to Avoid Them – September 15 (CDC)
Many outbreaks result from food being contaminated when it is being prepared or served by a food worker with unwashed or improperly washed hands. Scientific evidence shows that preventing illness begins with the basics. Thorough handwashing with soap, before and after handling food, can prevent illness and death.

Investigation Update: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to Ground Turkey – September 14 (CDC)
As of September 14, 119 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 32 states.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Establishes Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Network – September 14 (FDA)
The FDA announced the establishment of the FDA Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network. Epidemiologists, veterinarians, microbiologists, environmental health specialists, emergency coordinators, and risk communications specialists will coordinate with the CDC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and state public health and agriculture agencies in foodborne illness outbreaks.

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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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