COCA Email Updates: March 1–14, 2011

COCA News and Announcements

Upcoming COCA Call: Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals
Date: April 21, 2011
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
The convergence of people, animals, and our environment has created a new dynamic in which the health of each group is inextricably interconnected. Disease outbreaks associated with animals in public settings have been increasingly reported in recent years. Join us for this COCA call where subject matter experts will discuss the importance of public health reporting of clusters of illness associated with animals in public settings, review CDC and National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians recommendations to minimize associated disease and injury risks related to animals contact.

COCA Conference Call Resources
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available on the COCA website. Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, and CECH) are available for most COCA calls. Download the slides and follow along with the audio file, both of which are posted on the COCA website after a call.

COCA Home Page

Current CDC Emergency Response

2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
An 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan preceded a series of tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean on March 11, causing massive loss of life and damage in Japan and claiming 5 lives on the US Pacific coast. This page provides information on public health issues related to tsunamis.

2011 Japan Earthquake: Radiation Resources
CDC has a key role in protecting the public's health in an emergency involving the release of radiation that could harm people's health. This CDC page has general information about radiation protection methods and links to information specific to the current radiation emergency in Japan.

Tsunami Related Information for Healthcare Professionals
Resources for healthcare professionals addressing disease and health information, mental health, travel advice, and guidance for evaluating travelers returning from tsunami-affected areas.

From the Archives: Disaster Preparedness and the Chronic Disease Needs of Vulnerable Older Adults – CDC (Jan 08)
In this Update, COCA provides a link to an article of lasting relevance to the care of the aging chronically ill during a disaster. The CDC-published journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, published this article in January of 2008. It addresses tools and strategies to protect and assist chronically ill adults aged 60 or older, who account for a disproportionate number of deaths during and following disasters.

2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak
Information and resources related to the 2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak

Cholera Information for Healthcare Professionals
Cholera resources for healthcare professionals addressing diagnosis, testing, treatment, patient care, and prevention.

Emerging Infectious Disease (EID)

EID is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The following emergency preparedness and response-related articles of interest were recently published:
March 2011, Vol. 17, No. 3 EID Home Page

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The following emergency preparedness and response-related articles of interest were recently published:

March 11, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 9 Download .pdf document of this issue

Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables

March 4, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 8 Download .pdf document of this issue

To electronically subscribe to the MMWR, go to MMWR Subscriptions and enter your email address in the box entitled Get email updates.

Infectious Diseases

Summary of Weekly Flu View – CDC (Mar 10)
Influenza activity in the United States decreased during week 9 (February 27–March 5), according to the FluView report. CDC tracks certain key flu indicators over the season. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the sixth consecutive week. Circulating viruses reported were influenza B virus, influenza A (H3) virus, 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and influenza A viruses that were not subtyped.

Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – CDC (Mar 11)
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.

Updated Influenza Guidance and Tools for Clinicians

UPDATED Settings Where High-Risk Persons and Their Contacts May Be Targeted For Influenza Vaccination – CDC (Mar 11)
Responding to Influenza:A Toolkit for Prenatal Care Providers – CDC (Mar 10)
UPDATED Guidance for the Prevention and Control of Influenza in the Peri- and Postpartum Settings – CDC (Mar 7)

Travelers’ Health

Outbreak Notice: Rabies in Bali, Indonesia – CDC (Mar 1)
In December 2008, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture notified the World Organization for Animal Health about a rabies outbreak in dogs on the island of Bali, Indonesia. As of February 2011, more than 100 deaths caused by rabies have been reported in Bali. Human and animal rabies cases have been confirmed near popular tourist destinations on the southern tip of Bali and throughout the island. CDC advises travelers to the entire island of Bali to take precautions against rabies.

Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health

Free Webinar: Oil & Water: Toxicology in Emergency Response – ATSDR/CDC/FCEP (Mar 4)
Date/Time: March 17, 2011 4:15 – 5:15 pm
Location: Online and Clearwater Beach, FL
A moderated panel discussion will address ways that toxicology partner organizations and agencies could rapidly and efficiently coordinate the response of toxicologists to toxic environmental emergencies. Presented by the American College of Medical Toxicology, with assistance of Florida College of Emergency Physicians and support from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – CDC (Mar 7)
CDC estimates that 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI, including concussions, each year. Of those individuals, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.4 million are treated and released from an emergency department.

Occupational Safety and Health

Federal Register Requests Information Related to 9/11 Exposures and Possible Relationship to Cancer – CDC (Mar 8)
The Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of CDC serves as the World Trade Center (WTC) Program Administrator for certain functions related to the WTC Health Program established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Information is being requested for review of all available scientific and medical evidence to determine if, based on the scientific evidence, cancer or a certain type of cancer should be added to the applicable list of health conditions covered by the program.

Healthcare Worker Survey: Chemical Safety, Health Practices – CDC (Mar 1)
NIOSH invites healthcare workers to participate in a voluntary online survey about safety and health practices in working with hazardous chemicals on the job. The survey will close March 26.

Food & Drug Safety

Safe Food Handling: Preparing for a Weather Emergency – USDA/FSIS (Mar 11)
Severe weather events can cause power outages, floods, and other problems that can affect the safety of food. Knowing what to do before and after a weather event can help reduce the risk of illness.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alert – FDA (Mar 12)
Information on recent FDA recalls, market recalls, and safety alerts.

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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