Synopsis for September 26, 2003

The MMWR is embargoed until NOON ET, Thursdays.

1. Transmission of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Outpatient Settings — New York, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, 2000–2002
2. Nonfatal Residential Fire-Related Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments — United States, 2001
3. Local Transmission of Plasmodium vivax Malaria — Palm Beach County, Florida, 2003
4. Update: Influenza Activity — United States and Worldwide, May–September, 2003
5. Laboratory Surveillance for Wild and Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses, January 2002–June 2003
6. Update: Detection of West Nile Virus in Blood Donations, United States, 2003
7. West Nile Virus Activity — United States, September 4–10, 2003

MMWR Reports and Recommendations
September 26, 2003/Vol. 52/RR–13

Using Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine for Prevention and Control of Influenza Supplemental Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

A new nasally-administered influenza vaccine is now available for use in the United States in healthy persons aged 5–49 years.

Influenza virus infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality in the United States each year. Prevention of influenza relies primarily on vaccination. Until recently, only inactivated influenza vaccine, or the ‘flu shot,’ was available for use in the United States. However, in 2003, an intranasal, live influenza vaccine was approved for use in healthy persons aged 5–49 years. The new intranasal vaccine adds an option for vaccinating healthy persons aged 5–49 years who either want to avoid getting influenza, or who are in close contact with persons at high risk for experiencing serious complications from influenza infection.

Contact: Keiji Fukuda, MD, MPH
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639–3747

Synopsis for September 26, 2003

Transmission of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in
Outpatient Settings — New York, Nebraska, and
Oklahoma, 2000–2002

Recent outbreaks of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections illustrate the need to reinforce basic infection control principles and practices among U.S. healthcare workers who provide direct patient care.

Four large outbreaks of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection recently occurred in out-patient healthcare settings in three states. In all four outbreaks, unsafe injection practices, primarily reuse of needles and syringes or contamination of multiple dose medication vials, probably led to transmission among patients. These outbreaks illustrate the need to reinforce basic infection control principles and practices among all healthcare workers in the United States who provide direct patient care. To prevent bloodborne diseases from being transmitted in healthcare settings, all healthcare workers should strictly adhere to recommended standard precautions and infection control principles, including safe injection practices and appropriate sterile techniques.

Nonfatal Residential Fire-Related Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments — United States, 2001

Each year more than 25,000 individuals are treated in a U.S emergency room for injuries sustained in a residential fire; more than half of them are treated for smoke inhalation.

Residential fires continue to be a public health problem in the United States, causing approximately 3,000 deaths and $5.6 billion in direct property damage annually. This CDC MMWR study found that more than 25,000 individuals were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for injuries sustained in a residential fire in 2001. Approximately six percent of these individuals were hospitalized as a result of their injuries. Slightly more than half of the cases treated in emergency departments were due to smoke inhalation, with burns accounting for the remaining cases. More than 40 percent of burn patients had injuries to their arms and hands, and more than 20 percent had burns on their heads and necks. CDC researchers advise that these injuries are preventable when safety measures such as installing and maintaining working smoke alarms are taken and families create an escape plan and practice it regularly.

Local Transmission of Plasmodium vivax Malaria — Palm Beach County, Florida, 2003

No summary available.

Update: Influenza Activity — United States and
Worldwide, May–September, 2003

The best time to receive influenza vaccine is during October or November.

During May–September 2003, influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the most frequently reported influenza virus type/subtype worldwide, but influenza A(H1) and B viruses also circulated. The influenza virus type/subtype that will predominate and the severity of influenza-related disease activity for the 2003–04 influenza season cannot be predicted. Influenza vaccine is recommended for persons at high risk for developing influenza-related complications, health-care workers, and household contacts of high risk persons. The optimal time for influenza vaccination is during October–November. Influenza vaccine supply should be adequate during October–November, therefore, influenza vaccination can proceed for all high-risk and healthy persons, individually and through mass campaigns, as soon as vaccine is available.

Laboratory Surveillance for Wild and Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses, January 2002–June 2003

During the final stages of polio eradication, the laboratory network provides critical molecular evidence to track down the remaining strains of polioviruses.

After the 1988 World Health Assembly resolution to eradicate poliomyelitis, the Global Laboratory Network for Poliomyelitis Eradication was established by the World Health Organization (WHO). During January 2002-June 2003, the global laboratory network for polioviruses has continued to provide critical input and meet the challenges of the polio eradication initiative. It played a key role in providing substantial evidence for the eradication of wild type 2 poliovirus and interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in the Western Pacific Region. In the seven remaining polio endemic countries, the network has provided timely virologic evidence of where poliovirus is circulating, which is critical for guiding activities aimed at interrupting transmission. To ensure the achievement and maintenance of polio eradication globally, the continued support for the laboratory network by national governments and WHO partner agencies is essential.

Update: Detection of West Nile Virus in Blood Donations, United States, 2003

No summary available.

West Nile Virus Activity — United States,
September 18–24, 2003

No summary available.

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