COCA Email Updates: December 21, 2015 – January 4, 2016

Available for download: January 4, 2016, COCA Email Update

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COCA News and Announcements

Archived 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

2014 Ebola in the United States and West Africa

NEW: Enhanced Entry Airport Screening for Ebola Modified for Travelers from Guinea to the United States
As of December 29, 2015, CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) modified enhanced Ebola port-of-entry screening for travelers from Guinea. Travelers will now answer questions about travel history and possible exposures to Ebola. Travelers will also provide their contact information so that the health department at their destination can connect with them, if needed.

updated: Assessment of Persons Under Investigation Having Low (But Not Zero) Risk of Exposure to Ebola
This guidance is for state and local health department staff, infection prevention and control professionals, clinical healthcare providers, and healthcare workers who are coordinating the evaluation of persons under investigation. Use this guidance to evaluate ill patients with low (but not zero) risk of exposure to Ebola based on a complete travel, exposure, and health history.

updated: Case Counts

CDC News and Announcements

NEW: CDC Year in Review: What’s Next?
CDC reviews the most pressing public health challenges of 2015 and previews plans for 2016.

NEW: 2015: What Kept Us Up At Night and What Will Keep Us Busy in 2016
In 2015, CDC continued to work to end infectious disease threats and to improve the chronic health conditions by strengthening public health systems around the world. These are a few of the threats that kept us up at night in 2015 and will keep CDC busy in 2016.

NEW: CDC To Play Key Role in National Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Plan
The White House released the “National Action Plan to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)”. As a key implementer of the National Action Plan, CDC supports TB programs throughout the United States and around the world to find, treat, cure, and prevent TB. The National Action Plan will help us stay ahead of TB drug resistance with innovations in surveillance, outbreak detection, therapy for hard-to-treat cases, and a system to help address drug shortages.

CDC Science Clips: Volume 7, Issue: 49

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

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter – (CDC)

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)

The MMWR series is CDC’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. To subscribe electronically, go to. Electronically Subscribe.

January 1, 2016 / Nos. 50 & 51 Download .pdf document of this issue

• Tuberculosis Contact Investigations — United States, 2003–2012
• Increases in Drug and Opioid Overdose Deaths — United States, 2000–2014
• Fatal Bacterial Meningitis Possibly Associated with Substandard Ceftriaxone — Uganda, 2013

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Seasonal Influenza

Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot!  – (CDC)

What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Influenza Season  – (CDC)

Information for Health Professionals  – (CDC)

Weekly Flu View – December 19 (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.

Travel Safety

NEW: Polio in Burma (Myanmar) – (CDC)
Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions

Current Travel Warnings - December 31 (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

NEW: ED-530XT Duodenoscopes by FUJIFILM Medical Systems, U.S.A.: Safety Communication - FUJIFILM Medical Systems Validates Revised Reprocessing Instructions - (FDA)
The FDA has been working with duodenoscope manufacturers as they modify and validate their reprocessing instructions.The revised instructions include a more rigorous protocol for pre-cleaning, manual cleaning and high-level disinfection procedures.

NEW: Perseus A500 Anesthesia Workstation by Draeger: Class I Recall - Faulty Power Switch May Cause Device to Stop Working - (FDA)
TDraeger is recalling the Perseus A500 anesthesia workstation because a faulty power switch may fail, causing the workstation to alarm and shut down unexpectedly. If this occurs, ventilation may fail and the patient may not receive either anesthesia or enough oxygen. Until the replacement of the power switch takes place, Draeger recommends that users operate affected Perseus A500 workstations under continuous supervision.

Food Safe and Pregnant: Tips for the Holidays and Beyond - (CDC)
The holiday season is filled with parties, family gatherings, and lots of food. While everyone wants to keep food safe, it is especially important for pregnant women to do so. Here are some tips to share with pregnant women this holiday season.

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.