Past Updates from the Clinician Listserv

Update Sent September 27, 2010

COCA’s Weekly Updates are disseminated every other week (biweekly). More frequent distributions will occur when there is emergency information or event-specific updates to share. The next COCA Update is scheduled for October 12, 2010.

The following updates were made to CDC information and guidance from September 14 – September 27, 2010. If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov.

Today's topics Include:

Upcoming COCA Calls
2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Emerging Infectious Disease Journal (EID)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Food & Drug Safety

Other Resources

Upcoming COCA Calls

Title:        An Historic Opportunity to Bring Prevention and Wellness to the Forefront: The National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council and the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy

Date: October 1, 2010

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Eastern Time)

Presenter: Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A
                  U.S. Surgeon General
                  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Overview:
You are invited to join Surgeon General Regina Benjamin on a conference call to learn about two historic opportunities created by the Affordable Care Act: The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council, chaired by Dr. Benjamin and composed of senior cabinet-level officials across federal agencies, and the Development and implementation of the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy. Dr. Benjamin is conducting this outreach call to engage the public and professionals in the development of the National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy. Join Surgeon General Regina Benjamin as she hosts a nationwide call to share information about this national effort to improve the health of all Americans.

Participate by Phone:
Call Number: 888-283-2975
Passcode: 1862596

For more information on this call visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2010/callinfo_100110.asp

2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Update: What’s Coming Ashore from the Oil Spill – CDC (Sept 24)
This page has information about what light crude oil does when it reaches shore.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/coming_ashore.asp

For more information and additional Healthcare Professionals resources visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/health_professionals.asp

H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources

Influenza 2010-2011: ACIP Vaccination Recommendations – CDC (Sept 23)
In this podcast targeted to clinicians, Dr. Joe Bresee discusses who should be vaccinated against flu this year, explains who is at risk for severe illness, and discusses the benefits of vaccination.
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp

Guidelines and Recommendations
Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings – CDC (Sept 20)
This guidance supersedes previous CDC guidance for both seasonal influenza and the Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, which was written to apply uniquely to the special circumstances of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic as they existed in October 2009. As stated in that document, CDC planned to update the guidance as new information became available.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/healthcaresettings.htm

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Safety: A Summary for Clinicians – CDC – (Sept 14)
Seasonal influenza vaccination is the most important way of preventing seasonal influenza virus infections and potentially severe complications, including death. Seasonal influenza vaccination reduces the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza or transmitting influenza to others. The 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine protects against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused widespread illness last season.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccine_safety.htm

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm#fluletter

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

Emergency Preparedness & Response

2010 Report – Public Health Preparedness: Strengthening the Nation’s Emergency Response State by State – CDC (Sept 21)
A report on CDC-funded preparedness and response activities in 50 states, 4 cities, and 8 U.S. insular areas.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/publications/2010phprep/

BARDA funds medical countermeasure innovation – HHS (Sept 21)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced the first eight contract awards under an initiative to help modernize and improve the nation’s infrastructure for producing medical countermeasures that protect against natural and man-made biological threats. The contracts help advance innovative tools and techniques that reduce the time and cost of development, testing, and production of medical countermeasures and that improve the safety, efficacy, and ease of use of these products. These contracts total $55 million for the initial phase and up to $100 million over three years.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/09/20100921d.html

BARDA awards $51 million contract for next generation anthrax vaccine – HHS (Sept 17)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $51 million contract to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., of Rockville, Md., for the development of a new anthrax vaccine using the protective antigen (rPA) to stimulate a protective immune response that neutralizes the anthrax toxins.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/09/20100917c.html

When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions—A Guide for Public Health Professionals – CDC (Aug 2010)
CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health developed this publication to assist public health officials, practitioners, and other stakeholders in their efforts to understand and prepare for drought in their communities. The document includes information about how drought affects public health, recommends steps to help mitigate the health effects of drought, identifies future needs for research and other drought-related activities, and provides a list of helpful resources and tools. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Publications/Drought.htm

Emerging Infectious Disease Journal (EID)

The Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) journal provides recognition of new and re-emerging infections and understanding of factors involved in disease emergence, prevention, and elimination. It also represents the scientific communications component of CDC's efforts against the threat of emerging infections. See the October 2010 issue of the EID journal at the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/

MMWR

MMWR Weekly - CDC (Sept 24)
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data in the weekly MMWR are provisional, based on weekly reports to CDC by state health departments. The following emergency preparedness and response related articles of interest were recently published:

September 24, 2010 / Vol. 59 / No. 37 / Pg. 1201 – 1228

September 17, 2010 / Vol. 59 / No. 36 / Pg. 1165 - 1200

To electronically subscribe to the MMWR, go to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr and enter your email address in the box entitled Get email updates or click on MMWR Subscriptions.

Food & Drug Safety

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts - FDA (Sept 27)
For information on recent FDA recalls, market recalls, and safety alerts please click on the following link:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

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