COCA Email Updates: March 15–21, 2011

COCA News and Announcements

Upcoming COCA Call – Today
Title: 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Interim Guidance for Clinicians Caring for Travelers
Speakers: Jeffrey Nemhauser, MD, CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service,
Associate Director for Science - Japan Earthquake Medical Officer- Radiation Studies Branch, CDC
Date: Monday, March 21, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern Time)
On March 11, 2011 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the east coast of Japan. Damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant following the earthquake and tsunami has resulted in an ongoing leak of radiation from this facility. 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. Travelers to tsunami-affected areas may return with a variety of physical concerns. During this COCA conference call, a CDC subject matter expert will discuss CDC’s interim guidance for clinicians evaluating travelers returning from Tsunami-Affected areas, and provide information for clinicians involved in planning for and responding to this type of emergency.
To submit questions in advance for the presenter please email us at coca@cdc.gov

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
A 9.0-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.

NEW: Radiation and Potassium Iodide (KI) – CDC (Mar 18)
This fact sheet from the CDC gives basic information about Radiation and Potassium Iodide (KI). It explains what you should think about before you or a family member takes KI. At this time, CDC does not recommend that people in the United States take KI or iodine supplements in response to the nuclear power plant explosions in Japan.

Radiation Safety – FDA (Mar 17)
Questions about food safety and medical devices.

RadNet Air Monitoring Data from the U.S. West Coast – EPA (Mar 17)
EPA continuously monitors environmental trends in radiation and has been doing so for 50 years. EPA has permanent or "fixed" monitoring stations throughout the nation that form the RadNet System. This page provides the radiation air monitoring data from the West Coast fixed monitors, which would be the first to detect radioactivity associated with a potential release from Japan's Fukushima nuclear reactors.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – CDC
Search list of health and safety topics related to actions you can take during disasters and when returning home following disasters, including cleanup, animals and insect hazards, and illness.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR series is prepared by the CDC. The following emergency preparedness and response-related articles of interest were recently published:
March 18, 2011 / Vol. 60 / No. 10 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 18)
During week 10 (March 6-12, 2011), influenza activity in the United States decreased. Of the 6,384 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, 1,346 (21.1%) were positive for influenza.

Summary of Weekly Flu View – CDC (Mar 18)
During week 10 (March 6-12, 2011), influenza activity in the United States decreased. Of the 6,384 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, 1,346 (21.1%) were positive for influenza.

Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update – CDC (Mar 15)
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.

Questions & Answers
Vaccine Effectiveness: How well does the flu vaccine work? – CDC (Mar 17)
2010 – 2011 Flu Season – Frequently Asked Questions – CDC (Mar 17)

Travelers’ Health

Travel Warning – U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs – Mar 21
This Travel Warning replaces the travel warning dated March 18, 2011, in response to the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy, and other technical experts in the U.S. Government have reviewed the scientific and technical information they have collected from assets in country, as well as what the Government of Japan has disseminated.

Travel Health Precaution – 2011 Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Release in Japan – CDC (Mar 19)
At this time, the U.S. Department of State urges U.S. residents to avoid nonessential travel to Japan.

New: 2011 Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Release in Japan Travel Information– CDC (Mar 17)
On March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the east coast of Japan. A subsequent tsunami struck the coast, killing thousands of people and causing serious, widespread damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant and to buildings, roads, and power lines, particularly along the east coast of the Tohoku region.

New: 2011 Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Release in Japan: Health Information for Expatriates and Students Living in Japan – CDC (Mar 17)
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommends that all Americans within 50 miles of the Fukushima reactors should evacuate the area.

New: 2011 Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Release in Japan: Health Information for Humanitarian Aid Workers – CDC (Mar 17)
If you are traveling to Japan to assist with the recovery, CDC recommends that you take precautions to protect your health. First and foremost, schedule a visit with a travel medicine provider, ideally 4–6 weeks before you leave, to discuss individualized recommendations that can keep you healthy.

Food & Drug Safety

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alert – FDA (Mar 21)
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.

Return to Top of Page