COCA Email Updates: April 9 - April 23, 2012

COCA News and Announcements

Upcoming COCA Webinar: Improving Disaster Planning in Nursing Homes and Home Health Agencies

Date: May 8, 2012

Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

Call Number: 1-888-790-6180

Passcode: 1281914

Participate by Webinar

CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response funds Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) to examine the organization, function, capacity, and performance of components in the public health system in preparing for and responding to all potential threats and hazards. The Emory University PERRC conducted a study examining disaster preparedness in nursing homes and home health agencies. Although nursing homes and home health agencies care for over 2 million patients, they typically have not been included in disaster planning efforts. Please join us for this COCA call where subject matter experts will share findings from their study and discuss strategies to incorporate nursing homes and home health agencies into community-wide disaster planning.

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

COCA Poster Presentation at the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association 43rd National Symposium

Date: Apr 29 - May 2

Location: Orlando, FL

COCA will present a poster titled “Preparing Nephrology Nurses to Respond to Health Threats through Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity”.

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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 Scienceclips: Volume 4 – Apr 17 (CDC)
Each week, to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge, selected science clips will be posted for the public health community. The focus is applied public health research and prevention science that has the capacity to improve health now.

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Public Health Preparedness

Get CDC Health Tips & Alerts via Text Message – Apr 09 (CDC)
Mobile technology is revolutionizing how CDC communicates important health information. Sign up to receive text message alerts and weekly health tips.

Disabilities: Emergency Preparedness Training – Mar 26 (CDC)
For the millions of Americans with disabilities, emergencies such as fires and floods present real challenges. Learn how people with disabilities, their families, and first responders can plan ahead for safety during a disaster.

Bombing and Blast Injury Care and Response – Mar 26 (CDC)
A blast or bombing can wreak havoc in a moment's notice, producing mass casualties with complex, technically challenging injuries not commonly seen after natural disasters. Learn how to save lives and build resilience.

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.

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Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID)

EID is prepared by the CDC. EID Home Page
Volume 18, Number 4 – May 2012
Highlights in this issue include

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Wildfires – (CDC)
Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Know whether you are at risk and protect yourself.

Tornadoes: Being Prepared – (CDC)

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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically subscribe.
April 20, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 15 Download .pdf document of this issue

April 13, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 14 Download .pdf document of this issue

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Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Weekly Flu View – Apr 20 (CDC)
During week 15, 7.0% 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 7.7% for week 15.

UPDATED: International Influenza Laboratory Capacity Review Tool – Apr 20 (CDC)
The CDC-APHL International Influenza Laboratory Capacity Review Tool (IILCRT) is a data gathering tool to assess laboratory capabilities and capacities, with an emphasis on influenza diagnostics.

National and State Healthcare-associated Infections Standardized Infection Ratio Report – Apr 19 (CDC)
A new state-by-state breakdown of health care-associated infections shows reductions in infection rates across the country. The report also pinpoints that some medical procedures will require stronger infection prevention efforts to maximize patient safety. This is the first time that CDC is releasing a standardized infection ratio for central line-associated bloodstream infections for each of the 50 states. As seen in the report, 21 states had significant decreases in central line-associated bloodstream infections between 2009 and 2010, which has contributed to the progress seen on a national level.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Launch Seasonal Flu Vaccination Program – Apr 17 (CDC)
On April 24, 2012, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR, or Laos), a small and relatively resource-poor southeast Asian country, will launch a seasonal influenza vaccination program to protect adults at high risk of serious flu-related complications, including pregnant women, in that country. The program launch is the product of a 6-year collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Lao Ministry of Health to develop the country’s influenza public heath capacities.

Answers to Common Questions about Flu Vaccine Safety (streaming video) – Apr 17 (CDC)
Dr. Claudia Vellozzi with CDC's Immunization Safety Office answers questions about the safety of flu vaccines. This video is intended for general audiences as well as health care professionals.

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Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings – Apr 18 (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.

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Food, Drug and Device Safety

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – Apr 23 (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.

Update: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly Infections Associated with a Raw Scraped Ground Tuna Product – Apr 20 (CDC)
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella serotype Bareilly infections. Salmonella Bareilly is an unusual serotype of Salmonella.

Fentanyl Patch Can Be Deadly to Children – Apr 19 (FDA)
Young children have died or become seriously ill from accidental exposure to a skin patch containing a powerful pain reliever. As a result of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a safety alert to warn patients, caregivers and health care professionals about the dangers of accidental exposure to and improper storage and disposal of the fentanyl patch.

FDA takes steps to protect public health – Apr 11 (FDA)
The FDA is issuing three documents that will help veterinarians, farmers and animal producers use medically important antibiotics judiciously in food-producing animals by targeting their use to only address diseases and health problems. Under this new voluntary initiative, certain antibiotics would not be used for so-called “production” purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency in an animal. These antibiotics would still be available to prevent, control or treat illnesses in food-producing animals under the supervision of a veterinarian.

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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.