COCA Email Updates: August 12 – August 26, 2013

Available for download:August 26, 2013, COCA Email Update

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COCA News and Announcements

Recent COCA Call/Webinar

Improving the Health of Children and Adults through Vaccines: Updates and Recommendations for Clinicians

Date:Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Vaccines prevent children and adults from potentially harmful or deadly diseases. To promote health and prevent disease, CDC publishes written recommendations for vaccinating children and adults. These recommendations are based on information from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). It is important for pediatric and adult providers to stay up to date on the most recent ACIP recommendations. During this webinar, a CDC subject matter expert addressed recent vaccine recommendations along with available immunization resources.

= Continuing Education

Additional COCA Conference Calls
Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, CECH, and AAVSB/RACE) are available for most COCA calls.

CDC News and Announcements

Get State-specific Information on Sickle Cell Disease – Findings from the Registry and Surveillance System for Hemoglobinopathies (RuSH) – (CDC)
Good data can lead to a better understanding of the health gaps that exist for people with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease. Visit the free materials page of CDC’s Division of Blood Disorders Website to get information on sickle cell disease collected from 5 of the 7 states funded to participate in the Registry and Surveillance System for Hemoglobinopathies (RuSH) pilot project.

CDC Science Clips: Volume 5, Issue: 32 – (CDC)
Each week select science clips are shared with the public health community to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge. The focus is applied public health research and prevention science that has the capacity to improve health now.

Public Health Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness and Response – (CDC)
Find resources for All Hazards and Specific Hazards preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources for Clinicians – (CDC)
Find online and in-person training centers and resources.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

NEW:On the Scene: Wildfire Communication in Colorado – August 14 (CDC)
An estimated 75,000 wildfires occur in the United States each year, and each one has potential public health concerns including evacuating safely, dealing with smoke, or cleaning up spoiled food after a power outage.

Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency – (CDC)

Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters – (CDC)

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically Subscribe

August 23, 2013 / Vol. 62 / No. 33Download .pdf document of this issue

• Polio Field Census and Vaccination of Underserved Populations — Northern Nigeria, 2012–2013
• Investigational Drug Available Directly from CDC for the Treatment of Infections with Free-Living Amebae
• Japanese Encephalitis Surveillance and Immunization — Asia and the Western Pacific, 2012

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Update:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) – August 23 (CDC)
A novel coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV) was identified in 2012 as the cause of respiratory illness in people. Investigations are being done to figure out the source of MERS-CoV and how it spreads.

Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus

Update:Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus - August 23 (CDC)
Human infections with a new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus continue to be reported in China. The virus has been detected in poultry in China as well. While mild illness in human cases has been seen, most patients have had severe respiratory illness and some people have died. No cases of H7N9 outside of China have been reported. The new H7N9 virus has not been detected in people or birds in the United States.

Seasonal Influenza

Weekly Flu View – August 23 (CDC)
This is a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by CDC Influenza Division. All data are preliminary and may change as CDC receives more reports.

Planning and Preparedness: Health Professionals and Seasonal Flu – (HHS)
Health care providers play an important role during flu season. The following guidance and information will assist health care providers and service organizations to plan and respond to seasonal flu.

Travel Safety

Current Travel Warnings – August 23 (US Department of State)
Travel Warnings are issuedwhen long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.

Food, Drug and Device Safety

Update:Multistate Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis – August 26 (CDC)
On June 28, 2013, CDC was notified of 2 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection in Iowa residents who had become ill in June and did not have a history of international travel during the 14 days before the onset of illness. Since that date, CDC has been collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.

Update:Resources for Health Professionals – (CDC)

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – (HHS/USFDA)
Your FDA gateway for clinically important safety information and reporting serious problems with human medical products.

FoodSafety.gov Reports FDA and USDA Food Recalls, Alerts, Reporting & Resources – (HHS/UDSA/FDA/CDC/NIH)
For recalls and alerts by both FDA and USDA, or to report a problem or make inquiries.