COCA Email Updates: August 31, 2015 – September 14, 2015

Available for download: September 14, 2015, COCA Email Update

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COCA News and Announcements

Upcoming COCA Calls/Webinars:

Title: Weathering the Storm — Understanding the Mental Health Impact of Hurricane Sandy

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015

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

Dial In Number: 888-469-1370 (U.S. Callers); 517-308-9218 (International Callers)

Passcode: 3791890

Webinar: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/join/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&netId=PW5219511&netPass=3791890&netType=conference&acceptTerms=on

Hurricane Sandy was an unprecedented natural disaster that resulted in deaths, injuries, and other disaster-related health effects. A substantial number of people exposed to the storm experienced mental health problems to include, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and serious psychological distress. Research conducted by Project LIGHT, a collaborative effort between Mount Sinai, North Shore-LIJ and the Nassau County Department of Human Services, and the New York City Health Department examined mental health effects of the storm and identified subgroups of individuals who were most vulnerable to the hurricane mental health effects. The research was conducted through the application of multiple methodologies including the collection of survey data from residents of affected areas as well as analysis of Emergency Department data. During the COCA Call, participants will learn about a natural disaster related epidemiologic studies focusing on mental health issues. Participants will also hear about the implications of these findings on disaster preparedness and response activities and how clinicians can help address mental health among those impacted by disasters.

Title: The Role of Clinicians in Addressing the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2015

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

Dial In Number: 888-469-1370 (U.S. Callers); 517-308-9218 (International Callers)

Passcode: 3791890

Webinar: http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW5219519&p=3791890&t=c

The nonmedical use of prescription opioids and the use of the illicit opioid heroin cause significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Recent data indicate these public health problems are intertwined with one another and require a coordinated response between public health, healthcare providers, public safety, and the community. During this COCA Call, participants will learn about the drivers of the increases in opioid-related morbidity and mortality and steps clinicians can take to reverse these concerning trends.

Recent COCA Calls/Webinars:

Title: CRE and C. difficile : Is Your Healthcare Facility Implementing the Necessary Approach to Stop the Spread?

Date:Thursday, August 20, 2015

Additional COCA Conference Calls

Free continuing education credits (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, CECH, and AAVSB/RACE) are available for most calls. More information about free CE.

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CDC Emergency Response – CDC Response to 2014 Ebola in the United States and West Africa

Updated: Public Health Resources

Updated: Case Counts

CDC News and Announcements

NEW: National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, and more than 3,000 organizations across the nation will join CDC in encouraging Americans to take action to be prepared. This year, CDC will focus on communities of preparedness and will target messaging and products to the following groups:

• Week one: Family
• Week two: Neighborhood
• Week three: Workplace and School
• Week four: Global
• Final four days: Online Social Media Community

For each topic in September, CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) plans to release Public Health Matters blog posts, social media messages (including a Twitter chat and a Thunderclap), and graphics. Visit CDC’s National Preparedness Month web page for links to all of its National Preparedness Month content.

CDC Science Clips: Volume 7, Issue: 36 – (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 preparedness resources for all hazards.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources for Clinicians – (CDC)

Find online and in-person training resources.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

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 CDC. Electronically Subscribe.

September 11, 2015 / Vol. 64 / No. 35 Download .pdf document of this issue

• National Preparedness Month — September 2015
• Influences of Preparedness Knowledge and Beliefs on Household Disaster Preparedness
• CDC Grand Rounds: Addressing Preparedness Challenges for Children in Public Health Emergencies
• Injuries and Traumatic Psychological Exposures Associated with the South Napa Earthquake — California, 2014
• Elimination of Ebola Virus Transmission in Liberia — September 3, 2015
• Ebola Virus Disease — Sierra Leone and Guinea, August 2015
• Notes from the Field: Pneumonia Associated with an Influenza A H3 Outbreak at a Skilled Nursing Facility — Florida, 2014
• Notice to Readers: The Effect of Falsified Clostridium difficile Infections Surveillance Data on Results Reported in MMWR
  

Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Seasonal Influenza

What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Influenza Season

Information for Health Professionals

Weekly Flu View – September 9 (CDC)

Flu View 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 11 (US Department of State)

The U.S. Department of State issues Travel Warnings when long-term, protracted conditions make a country dangerous or unstable. Travel Warnings recommend that Americans avoid or carefully consider the risk of travel to that country. The State Department also issues Travel Warnings 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 State Department staff.

Food, Drug and Device Safety

NEW: FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Poona Linked to Cucumbers - (FDA)
The FDA, CDC, and state and local officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to “slicer” cucumbers, supplied by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce and grown in Baja, Mexico. This type of cucumber can also be called “American” cucumbers.

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program – (FDA)

MedWatch is your Food and Drug Administration (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/USDA/FDA/CDC/NIH)

Foodsafety.gov lists notices of recalls and alerts from both FDA and USDA. Visitors to the site can report a problem or make inquiries.