MMWR News Synopsis for November 10, 2016

 

Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults — United States, 2005–2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Despite progress in reducing the proportion of adults who smoke cigarettes, 36.5 million U.S. adults still smoke and significant disparities persist. During 2005–2015, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among U.S. adults declined from 20.9% to 15.1%, including a 1.7 absolute percentage point reduction during 2014-2015 alone. However, there are marked disparities in smoking prevalence. Cigarette smoking prevalence was higher among adults who are male, younger, American Indian/Alaska Native, have less education, live below the federal poverty level, live in the South or Midwest, are insured through Medicaid or are uninsured, have a disability/limitation, are LGB, or have serious psychological distress. Proven population-based interventions, including tobacco price increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws, hard-hitting anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, and barrier-free access to tobacco cessation counseling and medications, are critical to reducing cigarette smoking and smoking-related disease and death among U.S. adults, particularly among subpopulations with the highest smoking prevalence.

Incidence of Zika Virus Disease by Age and Sex — Puerto Rico, November 1, 2015–September 8, 2016

CDC Media Relations
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Among all laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in Puerto Rico, 62% were in females. It is possible that male-to-female sexual transmission is a contributing factor to this skewing of the burden of disease toward women, but the relative contribution of sexual transmission of Zika virus to rates of Zika virus disease is only beginning to be explored. The findings from this analysis of the age and sex distribution of Zika virus disease in Puerto Rico are consistent with patterns observed in other countries. Among all adult age groups, more women than men had laboratory evidence of Zika virus disease. A larger burden of Zika virus disease among women than men might be explained by more exposure to Aedes mosquitoes in the home, more severe symptoms among women in certain age groups, difference in health-care seeking behavior, reporting biases by health care workers, and male-to-female sexual transmission.

Epilepsy Among Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans — United States, 2002–2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Because Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with epilepsy have a higher risk of death, it’s critical to ensure that they have access to appropriate VA clinical and community health and social service providers and  to programs that help them manage their physical and mental health. In the first study examining mortality in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans with epilepsy, researchers from the Veterans Administration (VA) and CDC found that these veterans had a two-and-a-half times higher risk of death than veterans without epilepsy, even after accounting for other conditions (e.g., cancer, heart disease). This higher risk of death might be associated with poorly controlled seizures, high-risk behaviors, or social isolation. Because of this higher risk, it’s critical to ensure that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with epilepsy have access to appropriate VA clinical and community health and social service providers and to programs that help them manage their physical and mental health.

Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2015

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Despite being eliminated from the Western hemisphere, measles killed about 134,000 children in other regions of the world in 2015. Vaccination efforts need to be strengthened to stop these preventable deaths. Progress towards controlling measles globally has stagnated despite a 79% reduction in deaths between 2000 and 2015. Worldwide, about 134,000 children die each year from measles. Reaching every child with 2 doses of measles vaccine continues to be a challenge. Six countries ─ Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan ─ account for over half of the 20 million infants who missed measles vaccination in 2015 and about 75% of all estimated measles deaths. Countries and partners must act urgently to secure political commitment, raise the visibility of measles, vaccinate every child, strengthen surveillance, and mitigate the threat of decreasing resources for immunization when polio eradication is achieved.

Notes from the Field: 

Photokeratoconjunctivitis Outbreak Associated with Use of Damaged Metal Halide Lamps — Maharashtra State, Western India, June 2016

QuickStats:

Percentage of Adults Aged ≥65 Years Who Reported Ever Receiving a Pneumococcal Vaccination, by Race/Ethnicity and Number of 10 Diagnosed Chronic Conditions — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2014–2015

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES