COCA Email Updates: July 29 - August 12, 2013

Available for download:August 12, 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

CDC Science Clips: Volume 5, Issue: 30 – (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:Public Health Matters Blog: EvacuKids – August 7 (CDC)
EvacuKids is tailored to the specific needs of the children, those whose families have transportation out of the city and those without it. EvacuKids is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful, sustainable impact on a generation that will someday lead New Orleans in a positive direction.

Prevent and Treat Other Illnesses and Injuries After a Hurricane or Flood: Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning – (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 9, 2013 / Vol. 62 / No. 31Download .pdf document of this issue

• Heat Illness and Deaths — New York City, 2000–2011
• Fatal West Nile Virus Infection After Probable Transfusion-Associated Transmission — Colorado, 2012
• CDC Grand Rounds: Public Health Approaches to Reducing U.S. Infant Mortality

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Update:CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update: Notice to Healthcare Providers and Public Health Officials: Updated Guidance for the Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – August 12 (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to better understand the public health risks posed by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Update:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) – August 8 (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 7 (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 2 (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 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:Multistate Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis – August 12 (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.

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.