Past Updates from the Clinician Listserv

Update Sent December 20, 2010

COCA’s Weekly Updates are normally disseminated every other week (biweekly). As a result of CDC’s response to the 2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak weekly distributions will occur. The next COCA Update is scheduled for December 27, 2010.

The following updates were made to CDC information and guidance from December 14 – December 20, 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 Haiti Cholera Outbreak
H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Travelers' Health
Food & Drug Safety

Other Resources

2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak

Update: Haiti Travel Precaution – CDC (Dec 17)
An epidemic cholera strain has been confirmed in Haiti, causing the first cholera outbreak in Haiti in at least 100 years. Cholera is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-health-precaution/haiti-cholera.aspx

Update: Defeating Cholera: Clinical Presentation and Management for Haiti Cholera Outbreak, 2010 – CDC (Dec 16)
These changes consist of dropping ciprofloxacin as an option for treating cholera due to concerns about resistance.
http://www.cdc.gov/haiticholera/clinicalmanagement/

New: Dominican Republic Outbreak Notice – CDC (Dec 16)
Cases of cholera were confirmed in the Dominican Republic November 16, 2010. Cholera is most often spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water. Water may be contaminated by the feces of an infected person or by untreated sewage. Food is often contaminated by water containing cholera bacteria or being handled by a person ill with cholera.
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/outbreak-notice/cholera-dominican-republic.aspx

Cholera Information for Healthcare Providers Going to Haiti – CDC (Dec 15)
This document is intended to provide a brief overview of the current outbreak situation, basic epidemiology, diagnosis and management of patients with cholera, and prevention and infection control guidance for health care providers traveling to Haiti.
http://www.cdc.gov/haiticholera/hcp_goingtohaiti.htm

Cholera Information for Healthcare Professionals
Cholera resources for healthcare professionals addressing diagnosis, testing, treatment, patient care, and prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/haiticholera/hc_professionals.htm

For more information and additional resources visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/haiticholera/

On Demand Training
Archived COCA Conference Call is available on the COCA webpage at: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp. Simply download the PowerPoint and follow along with the audio file posted on the COCA webpage

Cholera in Haiti – Why U.S. Clinicians Need to Care(12/15/10) http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2010/callinfo_121510.asp

H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources

Flu View – 2010-2011 Influenza Season Week 49 ending December 11, 2010 – CDC (Dec 17)
During week 49 (December 5-11, 2010), influenza activity in the United States increased. Three hundred and sixty three (11.0%) 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/

Have You Heard, December 17, 2010: Report of Human Infection with Swine Origin Influenza A (H3N2) – CDC (Dec 17)
This Have You Heard posting provides more information on the report of a human infection with a swine origin influenza A (H3N2) virus in Minnesota reported in the December 17 FluView.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/heard.htm#1217

HHS and Walgreens Announce New Effort Aimed at Addressing Health Disparities in Flu Vaccination – HHS (Dec 17)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Walgreens has agreed to donate $10 million in vouchers for free flu shots to 350,000 eligible uninsured and underserved people in 15 markets across the country.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/12/20101217a.html

Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot: Fact Sheet – CDC (Dec 16)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/pregnant/flushot_pregnant_Factsheet.pdf

UPDATE: 2010-2011 Influenza Antiviral Medications: A Summary for Clinicians – CDC (Dec 15)
A summary of the 2010-2011 antiviral recommendations for clinicians.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm

Guidance for Clinicians on the Use of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for the 2010-2011 Influenza Season – CDC (Dec 14)
This document provides updated guidance for clinicians on the use of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for the 2010-2011 season.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/clinician_guidance_ridt.htm

CDC Media Advisory: Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal Supplement on 2009 H1N1 Pandemic
– CDC (Dec 14)
Newly published CID articles highlight the science behind the Federal government’s response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/a101214.html

H1N1 vaccine safe and induces robust immune response in people with asthma – NIH (Dec 14)

Results from a government-sponsored clinical trial of inactivated 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in people with asthma indicate that a single dose of vaccine was safe and induced a strong immune response predictive of protection. The findings also suggest that individuals over the age of 60 who have severe asthma may require a larger dose of vaccine.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2010/niaid-13.htm

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

Emergency Preparedness & Response

CDC Public Health Matters Blog – CDC (Dec 17)
The CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) would like to welcome the Public Health Matters Blog to the Emergency Preparedness and Response website. The Public Health Matters Blog is hosted by the Director of OPHPR, Dr. Ali Khan, who along with other invited authors share their perspectives and personal experiences working on the front lines of emerging infectious diseases and public health emergencies. From high-tech labs in Atlanta to the field worldwide, please join Dr. Khan and invited guests as they share their passion about public health and the continual strides that are being made to protect and save lives.
http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/

Stay Safe this Holiday Season – CDC (Dec 13)
Tips from CDC's Injury Center on motor vehicle safety can help you protect yourself, your passengers, and your family and friends. Whether you're headed around town, out of town, or out to celebrate, we wish you a safe holiday season.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/RoadSafety/

Hospital Preparedness Exercises Resources – AHRQ (Dec 2010)

These resources can help hospital preparedness exercise coordinators plan for, design and develop, conduct, evaluate, and improve hospital preparedness exercises.
http://www.ahrq.gov/prep/hospex.htm

The Medical Aspects of Radiation Incidents – ORISE (Dec 2010)
The Medical Aspects of Radiation Incidents provides the basic information needed for the medical management of victims of radiation incidents in an easy-to-understand manner and is now available to attendees of REAC/TS courses in “pocket guide” form.
http://orise.orau.gov/reacts/resources/radiation-accident-management.aspx

MMWR

MMWR Weekly - CDC (Dec 17)
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:
December 17, 2010 / Vol. 59 / No. 49 Download .pdf document of this issue

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.

Travelers’ Health

Interim Guidance for Cruise Ships on the Management of Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) – CDC (Dec 16)
This document provides interim guidance for crew members and passengers of cruise ships originating from or stopping in the United States during the 2010–11 influenza season, to prevent, diagnose and control outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI).
http://wwwnd.cdc.gov/travel/content/interim-guidance-cruise-ships-flu.aspx

Food & Drug Safety

FDA: Consumers should not eat Sally Jackson cheese due to risk of Escherichia coli O157:H7 – FDA (Dec 17)
All Sally Jackson cheeses on the market should be avoided because the products were processed under conditions that create a significant risk of contamination, and because Sally Jackson cheeses have been identified as one possible source of several cases of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 infections. All Sally Jackson cheese is made from unpasteurized raw milk.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm237381.htm

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alert – FDA (Dec 17)
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

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

Our Clinician Communication Team is committed to excellence in reporting our weekly updates. Please e-mail coca@cdc.gov should you note any written errors or discrepancies.

If you want to subscribe, unsubscribe, or update your information, please e-mail coca@cdc.gov

If you need further information or technical help, please e-mail coca@cdc.gov