Past Updates from the Clinician Registry Listserv
Update Sent February 11, 2008
NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only and may not provide our most accurate and up-to-date information. The most current Clinician's information can be found on the Clinician Home Page.
Today's topics Include:
- Possible Clostridium botulinum contamination
- Infections after Mass Casualty Events
- Seasonal Influenza
- Avian Influenza
- Travelers' Health
Possible Clostridium botulinum contamination
New Era Canning Company Announces New Nationwide Recall of Vegetable Products in #10 cans (6 to 7 pound cans) - FDA - Feb. 7
New Era Canning Company of New Era, Michigan is recalling all cans of vegetable products in #10 cans (large cans containing between 6 and 7 pounds) on the list included in the link below because they may have been processed under conditions which could have led to contamination by Clostridium botulinum bacterium spores, which can cause life-threatening illness or death. While the UPC on the can label may be helpful in determining whether the product might be under recall, customers will need to also examine the lot code information on the can end to determine whether the can is subject to recall, as some distributors may purchase these products from more than one supplier. The UPC and lot code information has been included on the product list for each product under recall to make the identification of any recalled products easier.
FDA press release: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/newera02_08.html
Infections after Mass Casualty Events
Public Comment Process for CDC Draft Document: Recommendations for postexposure interventions to prevent HBV, HCV, or HIV infection and tetanus for persons wounded during bombings and similar mass casualty events in the U.S. - 2007 - CDC - Feb. 7
This draft report outlines recommendations for postexposure interventions to prevent infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or human immunodeficiency virus and tetanus in persons wounded during bombings or similar mass casualty events. Persons wounded during such events or in conjunction with the resulting emergency response may be exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissue from other injured persons and thus be at risk for infection with a bloodborne virus. This guidance adapts existing United States recommendations on the use of immunizations and postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus and for occupational and non-occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens to the specific mass casualty event situation. These recommendations represent the consensus of federal public health officials, influenced by the experience and input of public health officials at all levels of government as well as those of the acute injury response community.
Public comments will be received through electronic mail correspondence to ncirdwebteam@cdc.gov. Opportunity for public comment will end on February 22, 2008. After that date, the draft document will remain available for public viewing but no further comments will be received and incorporated into the formal review process for this document. To review the draft document, please follow this link: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/safety/recs-post-public-comments.htm
Seasonal Influenza
Update on Seasonal Influenza Activity - CDC Media Advisory - Feb 8
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that most circulating influenza B viruses tested so far this season do not match this year's vaccine, signaling that two of the three vaccine components are off-target. Joe Bresee, MD, chief of epidemiology and prevention in the CDC's Influenza Division, told reporters at a briefing today that 93% of the circulating influenza B viruses analyzed so far belong to the Yamagata lineage, which doesn't match the influenza B component of this year's vaccine. The B component is a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus, which belongs to the Victoria lineage. Because the Yamagata and Victoria lineages are distinct, the vaccine provides little cross-protection for influenza B, but he added "that that while a less-than-ideal virus match between the viruses in the vaccine and those in the circulating viruses can reduce vaccine effectiveness, we know from past influenza studies that the vaccine can still protect enough to make illness milder or prevent flu-related complications. This is particularly important in people at high risk for flu complications."
The transcript of this CDC Media Advisory can be found at: www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media
Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update - Feb. 8
During week 5 (January 27 – February 2, 2008), influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. One thousand five hundred thirty-eight (23.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was above the epidemic threshold for the fourth consecutive week. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) was above national baseline levels. ILI increased in eight of the nine regions compared to week 4, and was above region-specific baselines in all nine regions. The West North Central region reported ARI above its region specific baseline. Thirty-one states reported widespread influenza activity; 17 states reported regional influenza activity; and two states and the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
Weekly US Map - Feb. 8
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia - WHO update - Feb. 5
The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced two new cases of human H5N1 avian influenza infection. The first is a 29-year-old female from Tangerang City, Banten Province who developed symptoms on 22 January, was hospitalized on 28 January and died on 2 February. Investigations into the source of her infection are ongoing . The second case is a 38-year-old female from West Jakarta, Jakarta Province who developed symptoms on 24 January 2008, was hospitalized on 26 January and is currently in hospital in a critical condition. Investigations into the source of her infection are ongoing. Of the 126 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 103 have been fatal.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2008_02_05/en/index.html
Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/H5N1- WHO - Feb. 5
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2008_02_05/en/index.html
Travelers' Health
Updated Case Numbers for Yellow Fever Outbreak in Brazil - CDC - Feb. 6
On January 8, 2008, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MOH) announced a yellow fever disease alert for tourists and diplomats residing in Brazil, due to a number of suspected and confirmed human yellow fever cases during December 2007 and January 2008. As of February 4, 2008, 25 confirmed cases of Yellow Fever have been reported, including 13 deaths. The Brazilian MOH alert states that travelers to “areas of risk” for yellow fever should be vaccinated 10 days before going to such areas. In addition to areas previously identified in CDC’s guidance to travelers, the Brazilian MOH has identified two additional states with yellow fever risk: the northern part of Espiritu Santo and the western part of Santa Catarina.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowFeverBrazil.aspx
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