Past Updates from the Clinician Listserv

Update Sent May 17, 2010

The following updates were made to CDC information and guidance from May 17 – May 24, 2010. If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov.

Today's topics Include:

2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
H1N1 Influenza Resources and Updates
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Food and Drug Safety

2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

NEW: Factsheet: What to Expect from the Oil Spill & How to Protect Your Health – CDC – May 21
This factsheet is designed for people who live in the areas surrounding the oil spill. It explains what they can expect from the oil spill and how they can protect their health and safety.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/chemical/2010gulfoilspill/Coastal_Residents_factsheet.pdf/

Resources for Oil Spill Response Workers
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/

Locate CDC resources related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill http://emergency.cdc.gov/chemical/oil_spill_gm_2010.asp/

H1N1 Influenza Resources and Updates

UPDATE: CDC Guidance for Day and Residential Camp Responses to Influenza during the 2010 Summer Camp Season – CDC – May 17
This document provides guidance to help prevent and control the spread of influenza (flu), including 2009 H1N1 flu, among campers and camp staff during the 2010 summer camp season. This guidance updates the earlier camp guidance on "novel influenza A (H1N1 flu) virus" that was issued on June 14, 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/camp.htm

Weekly FluView Map and Surveillance Report – CDC – May 21
During week 19 (May 9 - 15, 2010), influenza activity decreased in the U.S. Fourteen (0.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

WHO Updates International H1N1 Situation - WHO – May 21
As of May 16, 2010, more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18,097 deaths.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_05_21/en/index.html

Locate all H1N1 Flu and Public Health guidance documents
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/

H1N1 Information for Healthcare Providers
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/

Emergency Preparedness & Response

Updated: Diphtheria: Haiti Pre-decision Brief for Public Health Action – CDC – May 21
In order to prepare for a potential outbreak or epidemic of diphtheria as a result of the earthquake in Haiti, CDC subject matter experts (SME) prepared a pre-decisional brief. It provides key recommendations with relevant background information for decision makers in the Haiti Ministry of Health, the U.S. Government, non-governmental organizations, and elsewhere.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/haiti/diphtheria_pre-decision_brief.asp

Locally Acquired Dengue in Key West, FL, 2009 - 2010 – CDC/MMWR – May 21
Twenty-eight cases of dengue have been confirmed in people who have traveled to Key West between September 2009 and April 2010. This report describes the first three dengue cases reported in 2009, briefly summarizes the 2010 case, highlights preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation, and outlines measures used to mitigate and control the outbreak. Clinicians should include dengue in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illnesses in patients who live in or have recently traveled to subtropical areas of the United States or to the tropics.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5919a1.htm

Violations Identified from Routine Swimming Pool Inspections – CDC/MMWR – May 21
Swimming is the third most popular U.S. sport or exercise activity. The most frequently reported type of recreational water illness (RWI) outbreak is gastroenteritis. CDC analyzed 2008 data from 121,020 routine pool inspections conducted by a convenience sample of 15 state and local agencies. Of 111,487 inspections, 13,532 (12.1%) resulted in immediate closure because of serious violations (e.g., lack of disinfectant in the water). Although these results likely are not representative of all pools in the United States, they suggest the need for increased public health scrutiny and improved pool operation.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5919a2.htm

FCC/FEMA Workshop on 21st Century Emergency Alerting: Leveraging Multiple Technologies to Bring Alerts and Warnings to the Public – FCC/FEMA – May 20
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Continuity Programs (NCP) announced this workshop, which will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The workshop will highlight the status of and relevant details related to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, including the Next Generation Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Commercial Mobile Alert System.
Registration: http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html

Food and Drug Safety

Urgent Nationwide Alfalfa Sprout Recall – FDA – May 21
Raw Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in 10 States. This recall affects raw alfalfa sprouts packaged and labeled as: Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts - 4-ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags and in 2-pound and 5-pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words “Caldwell Fresh Foods”; Nature’s Choice alfalfa sprouts - 4-ounce plastic cups; California Exotics brands alfalfa sprouts - 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers. No other alfalfa sprouts are implicated in the outbreak.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213136.htm

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts - FDA – May 21
For information on recent FDA recalls, market recalls & safety alerts please click on the following link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

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