COCA Email Updates: November 07 – November 21, 2011

COCA News and Announcements

Archived COCA Conference Call
Title: Update on Influenza Vaccination for Health Care Personnel: Recent Coverage, Recommendations, Reporting, and Resources
Continuing Education Credits are available.
Date: November 15, 2011

CDC News and Announcements

Upcoming Vital Signs Call - HIV Prevention
Title: HIV Prevention Through Care and Treatment
Date: Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm (ET)
Sponsor: CDC Vital Signs
Call Number: 1-888-790-3994
Passcode: 53075

CDC Vital Signs wants to notify you of an upcoming conference call for physicians. The subject of this Vital Signs call is very specific and targeted for health care providers. It will highlight the importance of HIV testing, linking people with HIV to care and treatment, appropriate use of medications to reduce the amounts of virus in the body, and how viral suppression and prevention counseling can lead to HIV prevention. This call will bring focus to new data being released by the CDC and will provide a “blueprint for action” for how the medical community can work with CDC to help stop HIV transmission.
Speakers will include: Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, Director of the CDC and Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, Director of the CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.

This call will not be archived; call materials (audio, presentation, and transcript) will not be available online. CE credits are not being offered with this call.

Public Health Matters Blog: Don’t Feed the Animals – Nov 15 (CDC)
When you think of rabies you probably think of stray dogs, bats, or raccoons. CDC staff stationed in Kenya recently learned that when it comes to rabies, it’s not always the usual suspects you have to worry about.

CDC Science Clips – Nov 15
This series features top scientific articles, selected on the basis of potential for population impact and practical implementation.

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Public Health Preparedness

CDC Features - Nov 14 (CDC)
CDC.gov feature articles are written by subject matter experts and health communicators, then edited to emphasize strong call-to-action messages and friendly, meaningful visuals. This month’s feature include the following: Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer

CDC now tracking antibiotic use in hospitals – Nov 14 (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new antibiotic tracking system allowing hospitals to monitor antibiotic use electronically, make better decisions about how to improve use, and compare themselves to other hospitals. Before now, CDC was only able to track antibiotic use in doctors′ offices.

Understanding Vaccines and Vaccine Safety – Resources for Vaccine Conversations – CDC
These fact sheets provide information about vaccine testing, safety, monitoring, and the process for establishing the U.S. immunization schedule.

Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold – FEMA
Preparing your home, family and vehicle for the upcoming winter season.

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

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Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Winter Weather Preparedness – Nov 14 (HHS)
Winter storms bring many health and safety concerns with the wind, snow, cold temperatures and ice. But preparation, communication and a response plan can help you and your family weather the storms safely. These resources will help you learn how to create a plan, stay informed, and recover from a winter storms.

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter – (CDC)
Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, but if you plan ahead, you can stay safe and healthy. Prepare your home and cars. Keep emergency kits stocked. Be ready for power outages. Wear appropriate clothing. Check on children, the elderly and pets.

Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning After a Disaster – (CDC)

Prevention Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning – (CDC)
If you don't have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO alarm, now is a great time to buy one. More than 400 people die each year in the US from unintentional, non-fire related CO poisoning.

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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR weekly reports and publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically Subscribe
2011 Online Issues
November 18, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 45 Download .pdf document of this issue

November 11, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 44 / Pg. 1513 - 1548 Download .pdf document of this issue

Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables

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Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Weekly Flu View – Nov 18 (CDC)
During week 45, 6.1% 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 6.9% for week 45.

Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – Nov 17 (CDC)
This report is a summary of key influenza-related updates created from regional World Health Organization (WHO) reports, country reports, CDC field staff updates, and other sources. Updates are listed by region.

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Travel Safety

Advice for Safe and Healthy Travel for Students – Nov 14 (CDC)
Prepare for a safe and healthy study abroad experience by following CDC's travel health tips for students.

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Food, Drug and Device Safety

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – Nov 18 (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.

Ready Pac Foods, Inc. Announces Voluntary Product Recall Because Of Possible Health Risk – Nov 17 (FDA)
Ready Pac Foods, Inc. of Irwindale, CA is recalling a total of 5,379 cases of bagged salad products containing Romaine lettuce, as listed below, with the Use-by Date of November 18, 2011 because they may be contaminated with E. coli (E.coli O157.H7). E.coli O157:H7 is an organism that may cause diarrheal illness often with bloody stools.

The J.M. Smucker Company Announces a Limited Voluntary Recall on Two Specific Best-If-Used-By Dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky Due to Possible Health Risk – Nov 16 (FDA)
The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on two specific Best-If-Used-By dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Food Safety Tips for Healthy Holidays – Nov 16 (FDA)
Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the merriment can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.

Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to “Kosher Broiled Chicken Livers” from Schreiber Processing Corporation – Nov 10 (CDC)
CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in New York, New Jersey, other states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to a kosher chicken liver product labeled as “kosher broiled chicken livers,” which is not ready-to-eat and requires further cooking before eating.

Investigation Update: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to Ground Turkey – Nov 10 (CDC)

FDA launches website on safe disposal of used needles and other “sharps” – Nov 8 (FDA)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a new website1 for patients and caregivers on the safe disposal of needles and other so-called “sharps” that are used at home, at work and while traveling.

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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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