Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z

CDC Media Relations
Home | Contact Us
US Department of Health and Human Services logo and link

Media Relations Links
• About Us
• Media Contact
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Media Site Map

CDC News
• Press Release Library
• Transcripts
• MMWR Summaries
• B-Roll Footage
• Upcoming Events

Related Links
• Centers at CDC
• Data and Statistics
• Health Topics A-Z
• Image Library
• Publications, Software and Other Products
• Global Health Odyssey
Find your state or local health department
HHS News
National Health Observances
Visit the FirstGov Web Site
Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394

 


MMWR
Synopsis for September 24, 2004

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

  1. Childhood Influenza Vaccination Coverage ― United States, 2002-03 Influenza Season
  2. Alcohol-Attributable Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost ― United States, 2001
  3. Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis ― 2002-2003
  4. Tuberculosis Transmission in a Renal Dialysis Center ― Nevada, 2003
  5. West Nile Virus Activity ― United States, September 15-21, 2004
  6. Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Associated with Snow Peas ― Pennsylvania, 2004
No MMWR Telebriefing is scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 2004

Synopsis for September 24, 2004

Childhood Influenza Vaccination Coverage ― United States, 2002-03 Influenza Season

There is much work ahead to fully implement the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation to vaccinate all 6-23 month olds against influenza in order to increase the vaccination coverage levels and ensure protection of young children against influenza, because influenza results in large numbers of hospitalizations each year among young children.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communication

CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639- 8487

 

The first CDC report of national estimates of influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6-23 months showed that coverage was very low during the first year of the ACIP encouragement to vaccinate all 6-23 month olds against influenza. Beginning two years ago, with the 2002-03 influenza season, ACIP encouraged, when feasible, that all children aged 6-23 months, as well as household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children aged < 2 years, receive influenza vaccination each influenza season; this was in addition to ACIP’s other longstanding recommendations. Results from CDC’s National Immunization Survey (NIS), a nationally representative random-digit-dialing telephone survey with provider verified vaccination data, revealed that for the 2002-03 influenza season, only 7.4 percent of children 6-23 months had received at least one influenza vaccination and only 4.4 percent were fully vaccinated against influenza. There was large variability between states and urban areas for influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6-23 months which ranged from 2.2percent to 26.6percent for receipt of at least one dose of influenza vaccination.

 

Alcohol-Attributable Deaths and Years of
Potential Life Lost ― United States, 2001

In 2001, excessive drinking claimed more than 75,000 lives in the U.S., and shortened the lives of those who died by an average of over 30 years, resulting in a total of over 2.3 million years of potential life lost.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communication

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(770) 488-5131

 

In 2001, excessive drinking (defined as >2 drinks per day for men or >4 drinks per occasion; or an average of >1 drink per day for women, or >3 drinks per occasion) claimed more than 75,000 lives in the U.S., and shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years, resulting in a total of over 2.3 million years of potential life lost. Deaths were almost evenly divided between chronic conditions (46 percent) (e.g., liver disease) and acute conditions (54 percent) (e.g., car crashes). All deaths from acute conditions were due to binge drinking (i.e., 5 drinks or more per occasion for men; 4 drinks or more per occasion for women). Most deaths from excessive drinking involved men (72 percent), and most of the men who died were age 35 or older (75 percent).

 

Progress Toward Global Eradication of
Dracunculiasis ― 2002-2003

Despite great progress during 2003, great effort is needed in the final push to eradicate Guinea worm disease.

PRESS CONTACT:
James Maguire, MD, MPH

CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(770) 488-4419

 

In 2003, substantial progress was made by the global program to eradicate dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), a disabling parasitic disease that affects some of the world’s poorest people. The program has achieved a 99 percent reduction in the incidence of the disease from an estimated 3.5 million cases in 20 countries in 1986, when the program began, to 32,193 cases in 12 African countries by the end of 2003. This progress reflects the collaboration of The Carter Center, WHO, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CDC, and many other partners that work with national dracunculiasis eradication programs in each country where the disease occurs. Intensification of interventions and access to southern Sudan and other areas in conflict are necessary to achieve eradication.

 

Tuberculosis Transmission in a Renal Dialysis Center ― Nevada, 2003

Findings released today by the CDC of an investigation of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in a renal dialysis center in Nevada reinforce that TB transmission continues to be a problem in such settings.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communication

CDC, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
(404) 639-8895

 

After identifying more than 400 contacts of a healthcare worker who was diagnosed with TB disease, 13 employees and 29 patients were found to have TB infection. None had TB disease. Because dialysis patients have compromised immune systems, they are at higher risk for progression to TB disease. Therefore, early detection and treatment of TB infection is critical. CDC recommends that all renal dialysis patients be tested for TB at least once for a baseline tuberculin skin test result and retested if TB exposure is suspected.

 

West Nile Virus Activity ― United States,
September 15-21, 2004

PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations

CDC, Office of Communications
(404) 639-3286

 

No summary available.

 

 

 

 

Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Associated with Snow Peas ― Pennsylvania, 2004

Health-care providers should consider Cyclospora infection in persons with prolonged or remitting-relapsing diarrheal illness and specifically request laboratory testing for this parasite, which is not routinely done by most laboratories.

PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations

CDC, Office of Communications
(404) 639-3286
 

An outbreak of cyclosporiasis -- a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis -- occurred among persons associated with a residential facility in Pennsylvania; 96 cases of illness were identified. The cases were linked to consumption of raw Guatemalan snow peas at five special events catered by the facility from late May through late June 2004. This is the first documented outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to snow peas. Previous foodborne outbreaks have been linked to several other types of fresh produce from various countries. FDA and CDC are collaborating with Guatemalan officials to determine the sources of the snow peas and possible modes of contamination. No evidence of ongoing transmission has been obtained.

 


Media Home | Contact Us
CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed September 23, 2004
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/media/mmwrnews/n040924.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Communication