COCA Email Updates: August 26 - September 9, 2013

Available for download:September 9, 2013, COCA Email Update

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COCA News and Announcements

Upcoming COCA Call/Webinar

Protecting Children at Highest Risk for Influenza Complications

Date:Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Time:2:00 - 3:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Dial In Number:888-233-9077

Passcode:3873879

Webinar:
Children with chronic medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and neurologic and neurodevelopmental disorders, are at higher risk for influenza-associated complications. Using antiviral therapies early and aggressively in these vulnerable children can lessen the impact of influenza infection. Clinicians have a critical role in taking action to immunize these children and their close contacts. During this COCA Call, subject matter experts from CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics will discuss strategies that primary care providers and medical subspecialists can use in partnership with parents to improve influenza prevention and control in children at highest risk.

= Continuing Education

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

CDC Science Clips: Volume 5, Issue: 33 – (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)

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Journal

EID is prepared by the CDC. EID Home Page
Volume 19, Number 9 – September 2013
Highlights in this issue include:

• Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Surveillance, Kushinagar District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2011–2012
• Nodding Syndrome
• Antigenic and Molecular Characterization of Avian Influenza A(H9N2) Viruses, Bangladesh

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

MMWR publications are prepared by the CDC. Electronically Subscribe

September 6, 2013 / Vol. 62 / No. 35Download .pdf document of this issue

• National Preparedness Month — September 2013
• CDC’s Emergency Management Program Activities — Worldwide, 2003–2012
• Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water and Other Nonrecreational Water — United States, 2009–2010

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Update:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) – September 6 (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 – September 6 (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 – September 6 (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 – September 9 (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

NEW:CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update: Recurrent Nationwide Shortage of Tuberculin Skin Test Antigen Solutions: CDC Recommendations for Patient Care and Public Health Practice – September 4 (CDC)
This notice updates and supersedes the advice in HAN 345 and advises public health officials, clinicians, and workers in occupational health and infection control about how to adapt testing protocols to the recurrent shortage.

NEW:HHS Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Opioid Overdose Prevention Tool Kit
This tool kit equips communities and local governments with material to develop policies and practices to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. It addresses issues for first responders, treatment providers, and those recovering from opioid overdose.

Update:Investigation of an Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis in the United States

Multistate Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis – September 4 (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.

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.