COCA Email Updates: November 5 - November 19, 2012

COCA News and Announcements

Recent COCA Call/Webinar:

Interim Clinical Guidance during the Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation

Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012

During this COCA Call, subject matter experts provided updates to the current epidemiology of the outbreak and discussed CDC’s recommended treatment guidance and rationale.

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

CDC News and Announcements

Get Smart about Antibiotics Week
During November 12-18, 2012, the annual Get Smart about Antibiotics Week was observed. Overuse of antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance and compromises their effectiveness. Infections caused by resistant bacteria have become more common, and many bacteria have become resistant to multiple antibiotics.

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: 45 – November 12 (CDC)
Each week select science clips are shared with the public health community to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge. 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

Public Health Matters Blog – How to Apply Your 5k Training to a Disease Outbreak – November 14 (CDC)
Denver’s annual TB Trot is an example of how Denver Public Health uses the incident command system in creative ways to protecting the community’s health. The Denver Metro TB Clinic has organized this event since 2008, and in 2010, they began using the Incident Command System (ICS) to get and stay organized during a crisis…or annual event.

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

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources for Clinicians – (CDC)
Find online and in-person training centers and resources.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Updated: Hurricane Sandy Response and Recovery 2012

CDC Works for You 24/7 Blog: NJ Newborn Screening Lab Perseveres Through Hurricane Sandy, Keeps Hundreds of Babies Safe – November 14 (CDC)

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – (CDC)

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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically subscribe.

November 16, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 45 Download .pdf document of this issue.

Announcements: 16th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research

November 9, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 44Download .pdf document of this issue

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Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Updated:Weekly Flu View - November 10 (CDC)
This is a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by CDC Influenza Division. All data are preliminary and may change as CDC receives more reports.

Updated: 2012 West Nile Virus – October 30 (CDC)
As of November 14, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,128 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 229 deaths, have been reported to CDC.

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Travel Safety

Yellow Book iPhone app now available – November 8 (CDC)
The Yellow Book helps travelers and their doctors prepare for international trips by providing key health information and recommendations for staying safe and healthy while abroad. For the first time, Oxford University Press and CDC are releasing a mobile app version of The Yellow Book, available on iPhone and for purchase in the App Store.

Current Travel Warnings – November 16 (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

Updated: Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation: Clinician Guidance – November 8 (CDC)

NEW: United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Makes New Resource Web Page Available for Pharmaceutical Compounding Guidance
The resource page includes the ability to download free of charge USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations.

Updated: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Imported Frescolina Marte Brand Ricotta Salata Cheese
As of October 25, 2012, a total of 22 persons infected with the outbreak-associated strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 13 states and the District of Columbia.

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – (HHS/USFDA)
Your FDA gateway for clinically important safety information and reporting serious problems with human medical products.

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – (HHS/UDSA/FDA/CDC/NIH)
For recalls and alerts by both FDA and USDA, or to report a problem or make inquiries.

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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.