Issue Number 445            February 23, 2004

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. CDC reports on a fatal case of adult pertussis in Minnesota in 2003
  2. "Wall Street Journal" editorial describes intimidation by activists who link autism with thimerosal in vaccines
  3. February issue of CDC's "Immunization Works!" electronic newsletter now available on IAC's website
  4. For limited-literacy patients: Hepatitis A VIS now available on video and DVD in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
  5. Updated: IAC makes minor changes to its professional-education sheet "Hepatitis B Facts: Testing and Vaccination"
  6. Errata: CDC clarifies information published in the February 13 issue of MMWR

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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; WHO, World Health Organization.
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February 23, 2004
CDC REPORTS ON A FATAL CASE OF ADULT PERTUSSIS IN MINNESOTA IN 2003

CDC published "Fatal Case of Unsuspected Pertussis Diagnosed from a Blood Culture--Minnesota, 2003" in the February 20 issue of MMWR. A summary made available to the press is reprinted below in its entirety.

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In adolescents or adults, pertussis should be considered as the cause of cough illness lasting >=2 weeks, especially if accompanied by a "whoop", paroxysms of coughing, or vomiting.

A recent case of pertussis (whooping cough) in an elderly Minnesota woman who later died and identification of 3 additional cases in other adults in the community underline the importance of clinicians being aware that adults can get the highly contagious cough illness and they should request laboratory testing to confirm a diagnosis of pertussis. Increased reports of pertussis in teens and adults in the United States since the 1980s are a concern because infants who have not completed their pertussis vaccinations may be at increased risk of acquiring this disease. Pertussis should always be considered as a cause of cough illness lasting >=2 weeks among adolescents and adults.

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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5306a5.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5306.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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February 23, 2004
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" EDITORIAL DESCRIBES INTIMIDATION BY ACTIVISTS WHO LINK AUTISM WITH THIMEROSAL IN VACCINES

"Autism and Vaccines," an editorial published in the "Wall Street Journal" February 9, describes the harassing letters and emails the newspaper's staff received after publishing an earlier editorial, "The Politics of Autism," on December 29, 2003. The "Wall Street Journal" gave IAC permission to post both editorials on its website for 6 months.

(Editor's note: IAC's permission to access these two articles expired on August 17, 2004.)
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February 23, 2004
FEBRUARY ISSUE OF CDC'S "IMMUNIZATION WORKS!" ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ON IAC'S WEBSITE

The February issue of "Immunization Works!" a monthly email newsletter published by CDC, is available on IAC's website. The newsletter offers members of the immunization community non-proprietary information about current topics. CDC encourages its wide dissemination.

Some of the information in the February issue has already appeared in previous issues of "IAC EXPRESS." Following is the text of four articles we have not covered.

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OTHER IMMUNIZATION NEWS

NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK: National Infant Immunization Week will be held April 25–May 1, 2004. This week highlights the importance of timely childhood immunizations through various events held throughout the country. The 2004 materials for NIIW will be available online after February 23. For additional promotional and other NIIW information, visit www.cdc.gov/nip

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POLIO HISTORY INFORMATION SOUGHT: Do you have any materials, devices, recollections, or anecdotes from the era of polio epidemics--including the epidemics of 1916 or 1950? The Smithsonian Institution is preparing an upcoming exhibition on the history of polio. They have put out a call to doctors, nurses, patients, and others to submit medical devices, recollections, anecdotes, and memorabilia related to America's polio outbreaks. For more information on this project contact Katherine Ott of the Smithsonian at ottk@si.edu NOTE: Do not send any objects unless directed to do so by the Smithsonian.

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MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND RESOURCES

JOB OPENINGS WITHIN THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM: NIP is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified candidates for a wide range of positions. Researchers, Medical Officers, and Epidemiologists, as well as other specialties, are often needed to fill positions within NIP. We encourage all interested parties to apply for these jobs. For a current listing of positions available at NIP, please visit www.usajobs.opm.gov Once at the site, conduct a search for "National Immunization Program." Among other positions, NIP is currently seeking applications for a Medical Officer for its headquarters in Atlanta. The closing date for this position is February 26.

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION OPPORTUNITIES: The Global Immunization Division at CDC is currently accepting applications for the May and September 2004 Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) teams. CDC is recruiting candidates to work both in field surveillance assignments, as well as data management assignments. In order to qualify for consideration, candidates must either have obtained a graduate degree or licensure in health and have three years of relevant work experience (for example, MD, PA, RN, DVM, MPH) OR have five years of relevant work experience. Particularly desirable is field surveillance and/or immunization program experience, especially in developing countries, in addition to a demonstrated ability to work in French, Portuguese, or Arabic. For more information and application procedures, please visit www.cdc.gov/nip/global/stopteam.htm

Also, CDC is currently recruiting Medical Officers and Epidemiologists to work on measles, polio, and other activities in Atlanta-based positions as well as long-term assignments (2 yrs. minimum) in various overseas locations. We are especially interested in mid-career professionals with at least two years of international public health experience, disease surveillance, and/or immunization program experience, and excellent interpersonal skills. In addition, opportunities in polio eradication activities in priority countries call for a variety of public health professionals with experience in polio eradication and AFP surveillance who can commit a minimum of six weeks to field work. Interested individuals should send a statement of interest and a current curriculum vita to Liz Bell at ebell@cdc.gov or Carla Lee at cel1@cdc.gov

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To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the entire February issue of "Immunization Works!" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/news.d/news0204.pdf
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February 23, 2004
FOR LIMITED-LITERACY PATIENTS: HEPATITIS A VIS NOW AVAILABLE ON VIDEO AND DVD IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND VIETNAMESE

Healthway Software of Fargo, ND, has recently produced video and DVD versions of CDC's current hepatitis A VIS (dated 8/25/98). Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, these videos and DVDs are particularly useful when you need to communicate information on a VIS to recent immigrants or other populations who may lack fluency in English. Each video and DVD costs $10 and runs between 7-1/2 and 10-1/2 minutes in length.

VIDEOS. To find out more about the hepatitis A VIS videos, click the links below:

English: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/enghepavid.htm

Spanish: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/sphepavid.htm

Vietnamese: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/vihepavid.htm

DVDs: To find out more about the hepatitis A VIS DVDs, click the links below:

English: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/enghepadvd.htm

Spanish: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/sphepadvd.htm

Vietnamese: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/vihepadvd.htm

ORDERING. To place an online order, go to:
http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/products.htm

To access an order form for fax and mail orders, go to:
http://www.healthwaysoftware.com/Orderform.pdf

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. Healthway Software offers VISs and other health education materials in video, DVD, and software formats. To access Healthway Software's complete product line, go to: http://www.healthwaysoftware.com and scroll down the left column to the section titled Materials Available.

For additional information, email order@healthwaysoftware.com
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February 23, 2004
UPDATED: IAC MAKES MINOR CHANGES TO ITS PROFESSIONAL-EDUCATION SHEET "HEPATITIS B FACTS: TESTING AND VACCINATION"

IAC recently updated some information on its professional-education sheet "Hepatitis B Facts: Testing and Vaccination."

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the revised sheet, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2110.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2110.pdf
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February 23, 2004
ERRATA: CDC CLARIFIES INFORMATION PUBLISHED IN THE FEBRUARY 13 ISSUE OF MMWR

CDC published "Errata: Vol. 53, No. 5" in the February 20 issue of MMWR. The article is reprinted below in its entirety.

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In the report, "Update: Adverse Events Following Civilian Smallpox Vaccination---United States, 2003," on page 107, the page numbers in reference 3 were incorrect. The correct reference should read, "CDC. Secondary and tertiary transfer of vaccinia virus among U.S. military personnel--United States and worldwide, 2002-2004. MMWR 2004;53:103-5."

In the report, "Global Polio Eradication Initiative Strategic Plan, 2004," on page 109, an error occurred in the address of the website listed in the last sentence of the last paragraph. The correct website address is http://www.polioeradication.org/all/news/document.asp

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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5306a7.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5306.pdf

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Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
  • Associate Editor
    Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
  • Writer/Publication Coordinator
    Taryn Chapman, MS
    Courtnay Londo, MA
  • Style and Copy Editor
    Marian Deegan, JD
  • Web Edition Managers
    Arkady Shakhnovich
    Jermaine Royes
  • Contributing Writer
    Laurel H. Wood, MPA
  • Technical Reviewer
    Kayla Ohlde

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