MMWR News Synopsis for November 13, 2014

 

Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2013

CDC Media Relations
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Smoking by far remains the most prevalent type of tobacco use and causes the majority of tobacco-related diseases and deaths in the United States. Data from the 2013 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that more than 1 in 5 high school students (22.9%) and more than 1 in 20 middle school students (6.5%) reported currently using tobacco. Nearly half of high school students (46.0%) and almost 1 in 5 of middle school students (17.7%) had ever used tobacco. Nine of 10 high school current and ever tobacco users used a combustible tobacco product. There was lower use of only noncombustible tobacco products or only electronic cigarettes among both current and ever tobacco users. These findings indicate that continued efforts are needed to monitor and prevent the use of all forms of available tobacco among youth.

Estimated Burden of Microbial Keratitis — United States, 2010

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Keratitis is a painful, sometimes blinding eye infection, but people who wear contact lenses can reduce their risk of infection by properly wearing and caring for their lenses. Keratitis is largely preventable. Americans make nearly 1 million healthcare visits for keratitis annually, resulting in $175 million in direct healthcare costs, a CDC study found. Improper contact lens use increases the risk of getting this serious eye infection. Contact lens wearers can lower their risk of getting keratitis by practicing healthy contact lens wear and care habits, including emptying their contact lens case and refilling it with new disinfecting solution every day, replacing their contact lens case every three months, and never sleeping in contact lenses unless otherwise directed by an eye care provider. For more information about healthy contact lens wear and care, visit www.cdc.gov/contactlenses.

Possible Eradication of Wild Poliovirus Type 3 — Worldwide, 2012

CDC Media Relations
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Evidence suggests that wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) might be eradicated worldwide, marking a significant milestone for global eradication efforts. However, continued surveillance is needed before the evidence of eradication is conclusive, particularly given evidence of limitations of surveillance in Pakistan, Nigeria, and elsewhere. High levels of population immunity to WPV3 should be maintained, both to protect against any residual WPV3 infections and to prevent the emergence and spread of type 3 circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses, a rare event. No wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) infections have been detected since November 2012, suggesting possible eradication of WPV3. The number of countries reporting WPV3 isolates declined from nine in 2010 to zero in 2013. During 2010–2013, the global number of WPV3 isolations fromfrom stool specimens collected from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) patients declined from 87 to zero, while the number of AFP cases with specimens tested increased from 98,788 in 2010 to 101,701 in 2013. Continued sensitive surveillance is needed before the evidence of WPV3 eradication is conclusive, particularly given evidence of limitations of surveillance in Pakistan, Nigeria, and elsewhere.

Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2013

CDC Media Relations
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The African, Eastern Mediterranean, and European regions are not on track to achieve measles elimination targets by 2020 and progress in the Western Pacific Region is at-risk. National governments and partners are urged to address policy and practice gaps in order to reach greater numbers of children, increase the visibility of measles elimination efforts, and provide adequate resources to strengthen health systems to achieve the goals and targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan. During 2000–2013, measles declined 72% worldwide preventing an estimated 15.6 million deaths. During 2013, 205 million children were vaccinated against measles during supplementary immunization activities. Despite this progress, the African, Eastern Mediterranean, and European regions are not on track to achieve measles elimination targets by 2020, and progress in the Western Pacific Region is at-risk.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES