COCA Email Updates: May 21 - June 4, 2012

COCA News and Announcements

Recently Archived COCA Call/Webinar
Improving Disaster Planning in Nursing Homes and Home Health Agencies – May 8 (CDC)

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

New Name for the COCA E-mail Distribution Listserv
COCA E-mail distribution list has a new name, CDC-COCA@listserv.cdc.gov. COCA subscribers now receive COCA Updates, Conference and Training Announcements, CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Messages, Clinical Reminders, and COCA Call Announcements through the new listserv. COCA no longer distributes E-mails through CDC-Clinician Terrorism Training Listserv or CDC-Clinician Terrorism Update Listserv.

Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) 2012 Annual Institute
Date: June 7- 9, 2012
Location: Portland, OR
ACHNE provides a meeting ground for those committed to excellence in community and public health nursing education, research, and practice. The purpose of the 2012 Annual Institute is to provide community/public health nurse educators innovative, effective, evidenced-based strategies to meet twenty-first century public health priorities. COCA will be presenting a poster at the Annual Institute titled “Preparing Public Health Nurses to Respond to Health Threats through Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity.”

Return to Top of Page

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: 21 - May 31 (CDC)
Each week select science clips are shared with the public health community to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge. This week’s Science Clips features scientific articles related to the growing threat of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea, and what actions public health, clinicians, and at-risk people can take.

Return to Top of Page

Public Health Preparedness

CDC Releases Older Adult Preparedness Portal - May 28 (CDC)
CDC releases a cross-sector preparedness guide and Web portal designed to help states, communities, and partners plan for and protect vulnerable older adults in all hazards emergencies.

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

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources Page for Clinicians - (CDC)
A resource for scheduled and on-demand emergency preparedness and response trainings offered by federal agencies and COCA partners.

CDC Public Health Matters Blog - (CDC)
CDC shares stories on preparing for and responding to public health events.

Return to Top of Page

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on National Hurricane Preparedness Week – May 31 (HHS)
May 27 to June 2 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, a time to plan what actions we should take as individuals and communities to reduce the impact of a hurricane disaster. The effects of these storms can be devastating and can have long-lasting consequences, including loss of life and property. Regardless of whether the hurricane season is forecasted to be above or below average you can be a force of nature by having a personal hurricane plan in place now.

Hurricane Readiness – May 28 (CDC)
You can't stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect yourself and your family.

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – (CDC)

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)

Return to Top of Page

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically subscribe
June 1, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 21 Download .pdf document of this issue

May 25, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 20 Download .pdf document of this issue

Return to Top of Page

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Influenza

Weekly Flu View – Jun 01 (CDC)
During week 21 (May 20 – 26, 2012), influenza activity declined nationally and in most regions and in most areas of the United States.

National Influenza Vaccination Week – May 22 (CDC)
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. NIVW will be held December 2-8, 2012. Check back soon for information about NIVW 2012.

NIVDP Influential News, Special Edition, 5/2012, PDF – May 15, (CDC)
This edition recognizes grassroots leaders within the African American community, unstoppable in spreading the word about influenza vaccination.

Return to Top of Page

Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings – May 24 (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.

London 2012: Olympic and Paralympic Games – May 23 (CDC)
In just a few weeks, the world will watch as athletes from around the globe compete for Olympic and Paralympic gold, silver, and bronze medals. If you are one of the millions of people who will travel to the United Kingdom (UK) to watch the Games firsthand, make sure you remember your good travel sense. In many ways, travel to and throughout the UK is similar to travel in the United States when it comes to health and safety. However, the expected crowds in the host city increase your risk of illness and injury. Be prepared and practice the smart safety and health habits you normally would at home, so your Olympic and Paralympic memories are about the competitions and sites—not your illnesses or injuries.

Return to Top of Page

Food, Drug and Device Safety

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – Jun 01 (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.

Benzocaine and Babies: Not a Good Mix – May 31 (FDA)
When a baby is teething, many a mom or dad reaches for a pain remedy containing benzocaine to help soothe sore gums. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic and can be found in such over-the-counter (OTC) products as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase. But the use of benzocaine gels and liquids for mouth and gum pain can lead to a rare but serious—and sometimes fatal—condition called methemoglobinemia. And children under 2 years old appear to be at particular risk.

Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry – May 30 (CDC)
CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in many states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and Veterinary Services to investigate an outbreak of human Salmonella infections linked to chicks and ducklings from a single mail-order hatchery in Ohio.

Return to Top of Page

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.