COCA Email Updates: January 5, 2015 – January 20, 2015

Available for download: January 20, 2015, COCA Email Update

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COCA News and Announcements

Recent COCA Calls/Webinars:

Title:  2014–2015 Influenza Activity and Antiviral Recommendations

Date:Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Additional COCA Conference Calls

Free continuing education credits (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, CECH, and AAVSB/RACE) are available for most calls. More information about free CE.

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CDC Emergency Response – CDC Response to 2014 Ebola in the United States and West Africa

Spaces Still Available!CDC Training Course:  Preparing Healthcare Workers to Work in Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) in Africa
As part of the response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is offering a 3-day introductory training course for licensed clinicians planning to provide medical care in West African healthcare settings to patients with Ebola virus disease. The course takes place at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama and includes a combination of lecture-based training, small group exercises and practical “hands-on” simulations.  The course offers 20.5 hours of free continuing education (CME, CNE, CPE and CEUs) for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health-care providers. More than 390 clinicians have already completed the training.  Learn more and register today – remaining classes are filling up quickly!

NEW:Recommendations for Managing and Preventing Cases of Malaria in Areas with Ebola

NEW:Interim Recommendations for Ambulance Service Providers in West African Ebola-Affected Areas

NEW:Interim Guidance for Cargo Ships: Monitoring Exposed Crew and Managing Suspected Cases of Ebola Onboard

NEW:Algorithm for Emergency Medical Services and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points

NEW:Considerations for U.S Healthcare Facilities to Ensure Adequate Supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Ebola Preparedness

Updated:Case Counts

NEW:Interim Guidance for Ebola Virus Cleaning, Disinfection, and Waste Disposal in Commercial Passenger Aircraft

NEW:Questions and Answers about Ebola and Food Safety in the United States

NEW:2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa - Cumulative Reported Cases Graphs

NEW:Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Interim Guidance for Managers and Workers Handling Untreated Sewage from Suspected or Confirmed Individuals with Ebola in the U.S.

CDC News and Announcements

CDC Science Clips: Volume 7, Issue: 3 – (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.

Public Health Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness and Response - (CDC)

Find preparedness resources for all hazards.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources for Clinicians – (CDC)

Find online and in-person training resources.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency – (CDC)

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – (CDC)

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by CDC. Electronically Subscribe.

January 16, 2015 / Vol. 64 / No. 1 Download .pdf document of this issue

• Early Estimates of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, January 2015
• Improving Burial Practices and Cemetery Management During an Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic — Sierra Leone, 2014
• Use of a Nationwide Call Center for Ebola Response and Monitoring During a 3-Day House-to-House Campaign — Sierra Leone, September 2014
• Announcement: Updates to the Overseas Immunization Program for United States–Bound Refugees

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Seasonal Influenza

What You Should Know for the 2014-2015 Influenza Season

Information for Health Professionals

Weekly Flu View – January 16 (CDC)

Flu View is a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by CDC Influenza Division. All data are preliminary and may change as CDC receives more reports.

Planning and Preparedness: Health Professionals and Seasonal Flu - (HHS)

Health care providers play an important role during flu season. The following guidance and information will assist health care providers and service organizations to plan and respond to seasonal flu.

Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings - January 20 (US Department of State)

The U.S. Department of State issues Travel Warnings when long-term, protracted conditions make a country dangerous or unstable. Travel Warnings recommend that Americans avoid or carefully consider the risk of travel to that country. The State Department also issues Travel Warnings 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 State Department staff.

Food, Drug and Device Safety

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – (FDA)

MedWatch is your Food and Drug Administration (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/USDA/FDA/CDC/NIH)

Foodsafety.gov lists notices of recalls and alerts from both FDA and USDA. Visitors to the site can report a problem or make inquiries.