Issue
Number 588
March 20, 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- HHS releases two new pandemic influenza planning guides
and an update on related department priorities
- CDC posts updated provisional Tdap recommendations for
adults online
- Build NIIW awareness with new English and Spanish
resources
- PATH's Rotavirus Vaccine Program publishes newsletters
and other resources
- CDC offers influenza chemoprophylaxis and treatment
guidelines for PDAs
- CDC reports on increased antiviral medications sales
before the 2005–06 influenza season in New York City
- CDC reports on inhalation anthrax associated with dried
animal hides
- CDC adds to and updates its Influenza web section
- CDC issues update on U.S. influenza activity during
February 26–March 4, 2006
- Hib Initiative offers a free quarterly email newsletter
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ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American
Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug
Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine
Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health
Organization.
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March 20, 2006
HHS RELEASES TWO NEW PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLANNING GUIDES AND AN UPDATE ON
RELATED DEPARTMENT PRIORITIES
Planning for pandemic influenza is critical for ensuring a sustainable
healthcare response.
On March 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released
a new tool to help medical offices and ambulatory clinics assess and improve
their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza.
The checklist is modeled after a pandemic preparedness checklist for
hospitals and should be used in conjunction with guidance on healthcare
preparedness planning in Supplement 3 of the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan.
Many of the issues included in the checklist are also relevant to other
outpatient settings that provide episodic and chronic healthcare services
(e.g., dental, podiatric, and chiropractic offices, ambulatory surgery
centers, and hemodialysis centers). Given the variety of healthcare
settings, individual medical offices and clinics may need to adapt this
checklist to meet their unique needs.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the checklist, go to:
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/medical.html
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the checklist, go to:
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/medofficesclinics.pdf
On the same day, Michael Leavitt, Secretary of HHS, released a report titled
"Pandemic Planning Update," which outlines the department's five priorities
related to pandemic planning and provides a progress update.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the report, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/panflu20060313.pdf
On March 17, HHS released a checklist to help emergency medical services
(EMS) and non-emergent (medical) transport organizations assess and improve
their preparedness for responding to pandemic influenza. EMS organizations
will be involved in the transport of acutely ill patients with known or
suspected pandemic influenza to emergency departments; some of these
patients might require mechanical ventilation for life support and/or other
lifesaving interventions. Non-emergent (medical) transport organizations
will be called upon to transport recovering pandemic influenza patients to
their home, residential care facility, or possibly to alternate care sites
set up by state or local health departments.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the checklist, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/emgncymedical.html
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the checklist, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/EMS.pdf
The website of U.S. government avian and pandemic influenza information,
managed by HHS, can be accessed at
http://pandemicflu.gov
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March 20, 2006
CDC POSTS UPDATED PROVISIONAL TDAP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADULTS ONLINE
NIP's web section Provisional ACIP Recommendations recently updated the
provisional recommendations for use of Tdap vaccine in adults.
To access the revised provisional Tdap recommendations for adults, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/tdap/tdap_adult_recs.pdf
To access all provisional recommendations, which include those for Tdap
vaccination for adults, hepatitis A vaccination for children, hepatitis B
vaccination for adults, and expanded recommendations for varicella vaccine,
go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/provisional_recs
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March 20, 2006
BUILD NIIW AWARENESS WITH NEW ENGLISH AND SPANISH RESOURCES
[The following is cross posted, with thanks, from CDC's Immunization Works
electronic newsletter (March 2006).]
Build NIIW awareness with materials and planning tools available for
download from the National Infant Immunization Week website. Materials
include:
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Posters
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Web Buttons and Banners
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English and Spanish-language Television Public Service Announcements (PSAs);
Available online the week of March 13, 2006
-
Spanish-language Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA); Available
online the week of March 13, 2006
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Sample Key Messages
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Sample Proclamations
-
Sticker Templates
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And more!
Share Your Activities: Let CDC know what you are doing to promote childhood
immunization during the week of April 22-29 and find out how others will
celebrate NIIW-VWA. Add your events to the NIIW activity form.
[Go to
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niiw for links to all the above]
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March 20, 2006
PATH'S ROTAVIRUS VACCINE PROGRAM PUBLISHES NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER RESOURCES
PATH established the Rotavirus Vaccine Program in 2003, with funding from
GAVI and the Vaccine Fund. The program works in partnership with CDC and
WHO. Its mission is to reduce child morbidity and mortality from diarrheal
disease by accelerating the availability of rotavirus vaccines appropriate
for use in developing countries.
Now that a new rotavirus vaccine has been licensed for use in the United
States, U.S. healthcare providers might want to access resources from this
organization.
To explore the Rotavirus Vaccine Program website, go to:
http://www.rotavirusvaccine.org
The program publishes two newsletters, Rotavirus Surveillance News and
Rotavirus Update. Go to
http://www.rotavirusvaccine.org/news.htm#Newsletters to read these
newsletters online or to subscribe.
RotaFlash is an email alert sent to provide information on breaking news
related to rotavirus disease and vaccines. To receive future RotaFlash
announcements, email rvpinfo@path.org
with "Subscribe to RotaFlash" in the subject line.
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March 20, 2006
CDC OFFERS INFLUENZA CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR PDAs
The CDC Influenza Chemoprophylaxis and Treatment Guidelines 2005–06 are
available as a personal digital assistant (PDA) file for viewing on a Palm
OS device, with bookmarks and hyperlinks to facilitate browsing.
To access the page containing instructions for downloading the guidelines,
the guideline files, and tips for viewing the guidelines, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/treatment/pda
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March 20, 2006
CDC REPORTS ON INCREASED ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS SALES BEFORE THE 2005–06
INFLUENZA SEASON IN NEW YORK CITY
CDC published "Increased Antiviral Medication Sales Before the 2005–06
Influenza Season—New York City" in the March 17 MMWR. Portions of a
summary made available to the press are reprinted below.
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. . . Sales of prescription anti-influenza medications (or antivirals)
increased markedly before the beginning of the 2005-06 influenza season in
New York City (NYC). The arrival of influenza each year is reflected in
laboratory test results of respiratory specimens, institutional outbreaks
of influenza, and increased antiviral sales. In October 2005, increased
antiviral sales were not accompanied by any of the other indicators of
influenza activity. However, increased antiviral sales did coincide with
media coverage of avian influenza due to H5N1 and a potential influenza
pandemic. A similar but smaller increase in antiviral sales occurred in
October 2004 during media coverage of a potential influenza vaccine
shortage. A likely explanation for the increased sales was the creation of
personal stockpiles of antiviral medications. . .
Sales data for antivirals suggest that physicians were prescribing
antivirals for stockpiling by their patients, which is not recommended
practice. Physicians and the general public should not create personal
stockpiles of antiviral medications.
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5510a3.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5510.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP
statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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March 20, 2006
CDC REPORTS ON INHALATION ANTHRAX ASSOCIATED WITH DRIED ANIMAL HIDES
CDC published "Inhalation Anthrax Associated with Dried Animal
Hides—Pennsylvania and New York City, 2006" in the March 17 MMWR. Portions
of a summary made available to the press are reprinted below.
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. . . The first case of naturally acquired inhalation anthrax since 1976
was identified on February 21, 2006, in a resident of New York City who
was a traditional African drum maker and dancer. The individual was
exposed to aerosolized anthrax spores in a non-ventilated studio when they
scraped contaminated animal hides to remove hairs and make them into
drums. Epidemiologic and environmental investigations determined that the
only other people at risk of infection were those present during
procedures that could have aerosolized anthrax spores (e.g., mechanical
hide manipulation or sweeping/vacuuming of hairs); as a precaution, four
people were identified and given postexposure prophylaxis. Further, there
was no documented risk of inhalation anthrax from playing or owning
African drums, or attending African dance performances.
Inhalation anthrax is a rare infection. The safest way to eliminate risk
of inhalation anthrax from animal hides or hair is to work only with hides
that have been tanned or otherwise treated to render anthrax spores
nonviable. Workers should further protect themselves by washing their
hands regularly, wearing protective gloves and a separate pair of shoes in
the workspace, and working in a well-ventilated space where others will
not be present. . .
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5510a4.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5510.pdf
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March 20, 2006
CDC ADDS TO AND UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION
CDC recently added four pages to and updated six pages of its Influenza
web section. These reports include information on the embargo of birds
from Albania, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, and Burma (Myanmar); countries added
to the list of those reporting animal cases (Sweden, Denmark, Israel,
Cameroon, and Myanmar); and H5N1 infection in domestic cats in Germany and
Austria and in a stone marten in Germany.
NEW
1. "U.S. Flu Activity Report for Week Ending March 11" (posted 3/17/06)
2. "2006–07 Influenza Vaccine Composition" (posted 3/15/06)
3. "Amendment to embargo of birds and bird products imported from Albania,
Azerbaijan, Cameroon, and Burma (Myanmar)" (posted 3/15/06)
4. "H5N1 infection in domestic cats and a stone marten—Europe" (posted
3/13/06)
To access these resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#new and click on the pertinent
links.
UPDATED
5. "Avian Influenza: Current Situation" (posted 3/20/06)
6. "Questions & Answers About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian
Influenza A (H5N1) Virus" (posted 3/17/06)
7. "Current Flu Activity" (posted 3/17/06)
8. "Avian Influenza: Current Situation" (posted 3/17/06)
9. "Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries" (posted 3/15/06)
10. "Avian Influenza: Current Situation" (posted 3/13/06)
To access these resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the pertinent
links.
To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal
influenza, avian influenza, and pandemic influenza, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
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March 20, 2006
CDC ISSUES UPDATE ON U.S. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING FEBRUARY 26–MARCH 4,
2006
CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity—United States, February 26–March
4, 2006" in the March 17 issue of MMWR. The opening paragraph is reprinted
below.
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During February 26–March 4, 2006, the number of states reporting
widespread influenza activity increased to 25. Thirteen states reported
regional activity, eight reported local activity, and four reported
sporadic activity. . . .
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5510a6.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5510.pdf
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March 20, 2006
HIB INITIATIVE OFFERS A FREE QUARTERLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
The Hib Initiative unites experts from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health
Organization. Its mission is to expedite and sustain evidence-informed
decisions at the global, regional, and country levels regarding the use of
Hib vaccination to prevent childhood meningitis and pneumonia.
The newsletter Hib Focus provides a focus on haemophilus influenzae type b
and the work of the Hib Initiative.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the December 1, 2005 issue of
Hib Focus, go to:
http://www.hibaction.org/resources/HibFocusDec14FinalNewsletter.pdf
To sign up to receive this quarterly newsletter via email, go to:
http://www.hibaction.org/hanews.html
To visit the Hib Initiative website, go to:
http://www.hibaction.org |
