COCA Email Updates: March 14 – March 28, 2016
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If you have any questions on these or other clinical issues, please write to us at coca@cdc.gov
Available for download: March 28. 2016, COCA Email Update
COCA News and Announcements
Upcoming COCA Calls:
NEW: Synthetic Cannabinoids: Information and Guidance for Clinicians
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2016
Time: 1:00-2:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Dial In Number: 800-857-9697 (U.S. Callers); 312-470-7286 (International Callers)
Passcode: 8433871
Webinar: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW6927517&p=8433871&t=c
During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn about synthetic cannabinoids, their clinical effects, and the role clinicians can play in the public health response.
Recent COCA Calls:
Update on Interim Zika Virus Clinical Guidance and Recommendations
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016
During this COCA Call, participants learned about the epidemiology and clinical manifestation of Zika virus disease and how early recognition and reporting of suspected cases can mitigate the risk of local transmission.
High Burden, Great Opportunity: Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2016
During this COCA Call, clinicians learned about the components of Million Hearts® and the strategies to help find and address the needs of those at greatest risk for cardiovascular disease.
2015-2016 Influenza Activity and Clinical Recommendations
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2016
During this COCA Call, clinicians learned about 2015-2016 influenza activity, heard an overview of CDC’s current recommendations for vaccination and antiviral medications, and gained insight into data supporting the recommendations.
Zika Virus — What Clinicians Need to Know
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Presenters reviewed with participants the epidemiology and clinical manifestation of Zika virus disease and how early recognition and reporting of suspected cases can mitigate the risk of local transmission.
Archived 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.
CDC Emergency Response
2016 Zika Virus
Clinicians Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age
NEW: US Zika Pregnancy Registry
To understand more about Zika virus infection during pregnancy and congenital Zika virus infection, CDC established the US Zika Pregnancy Registry and is collaborating with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. The data collected through this registry will be used to update recommendations for clinical care, to plan for services for pregnant women and families affected by Zika virus, and to improve prevention of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.
NEW: MMWR: Interim Guidance for Health-Care Providers Caring for Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure — United States, 2016
CDC has updated its interim guidance for U.S. health-care providers caring for women of reproductive age with possible Zika virus exposure to include recommendations for counseling women and men with possible Zika virus exposure who are interested in conceiving. The updated guidelines also include recommendations for Zika virus testing and guidance for women residing along the US-Mexico Border
NEW: Tools for Health-Care Providers
View printable and easy to use CDC testing algorithms for Zika virus infection.
updated: Clinical Consultation Service for Health-Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Infection
CDC maintains a 24/7 consultation service for health-care providers caring for pregnant women with possible Zika virus infection. This consultation service is NOT for patients or the general public. To contact the service, call CDC-INFO at 800-232-4636 or email ZikaMCH@cdc.gov.
NEW: MMWR: Estimating Contraceptive Needs and Increasing Access to Contraception in Response to the Zika Virus Disease Outbreak — Puerto Rico, 2016
Approximately two thirds of pregnancies in Puerto Rico are unintended. An estimated 138,000 women of reproductive age (15–44 years) in Puerto Rico do not desire pregnancy and are not using an effective contraceptive method. Access to contraception is constrained by limited availability, especially of highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptives, high cost, incomplete insurance coverage, and lack of trained providers.
NEW: MMWR: Preventing Transmission of Zika Virus in Labor and Delivery Settings Through Implementation of Standard Precautions — United States, 2016
CDC recommends Standard Precautions in all health-care settings to protect both health-care personnel and patients from infection with Zika virus as well as from blood-borne pathogens (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV]).
Interim Guidelines for Health-Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure — United States, 2016
Updated guidelines include a new recommendation to offer serologic testing to asymptomatic pregnant women (women who do not report clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease) who have traveled to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. This update also expands guidance to women who reside in areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. Local health officials should determine when to implement testing of asymptomatic pregnant women on the basis of information about levels of Zika virus transmission and laboratory capacity.
Clinicians Caring for Infants and Children
Interim Guidelines for Health-Care Providers Caring for Infants and Children with Possible Zika Virus Infection — United States, February 2016
CDC has updated its interim guidelines for U.S. health-care providers caring for infants born to mothers who traveled to or resided in areas with Zika virus transmission during pregnancy and expanded guidelines to include infants and children with possible acute Zika virus disease.
Sexual Transmission
NEW: MMWR: Interim Guidance for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus — United States, 2016
The following recommendations apply to men who have traveled to or reside in areas with active Zika virus transmission and their female or male sex partners. These recommendations replace the previously issued recommendations and are updated to include time intervals after travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission or after Zika virus infection for taking precautions to reduce the risk for sexual transmission.
Zika Travel Information
NEW: MMWR: Travel-Associated Zika Virus Disease Cases Among U.S. Residents — United States, January 2015–February 2016
During January 1, 2015–February 26, 2016, a total of 116 residents of U.S. states and the District of Columbia had laboratory evidence of recent Zika virus infection based on testing performed at CDC, including one congenital infection and 115 persons who reported recent travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission (n = 110) or sexual contact with such a traveler (n = 5).
Zika Virus Infection Among U.S. Pregnant Travelers — August 2015–February 2016
CDC Issues Advice for Travel to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Conferences and Meetings
NEW: A CDC Update for Clinicians on Zika Virus Disease with Platform Q Health
Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Join us for this educational activity to learn the latest information about Zika and to gain a better understanding of the role of clinicians in early recognition and reporting of suspected cases. Learn more about the event:
updated: Zika Action Plan Summit
CDC is hosting a one-day Zika Action Plan Summit as the nation faces likely local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in some places in the continental United States. Register to watch the Summit live.
Clinical Evaluation and Testing
NEW: Biosafety Guidance for Transportation of Specimens and for Work with Zika Virus in the Laboratory
NEW: CDC Laboratory Test for Zika Virus Authorized for Emergency Use by FDA
In response to a request from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Trioplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay, a diagnostic tool for Zika virus that will be distributed to qualified laboratories.
Clinical Evaluation & Disease
Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Most people infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic. Characteristic clinical findings are acute onset of fever with maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis. Other commonly reported symptoms include myalgia and headache.
Diagnostic Testing
Contact your state or local health department to facilitate testing.
Collection and Submission of Body Fluids for Zika Virus Testing
State and Local Health Department Resources
Zika Virus Risk-Based Preparedness and Response Guidance for States
Zika Virus Microsite
CDC has developed an easily embeddable collection of Zika virus information for partner and stakeholder websites. This collection, called a microsite, can supplement partner web sites with CDC’s up-to-date, evidence-based content. . The content is automatically updated when CDC’s website is updated.
2014 Ebola in the United States and West Africa
updated: Case Counts
Interim Guidance for Management of Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Health-Care Settings
Messages for the Care of Survivors of Ebola
CDC News and Announcements
CDC Science Clips: Volume 8, Issue: 12
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
Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter – (CDC)
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)
The MMWR series is CDC’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. To subscribe electronically, go to. Electronically Subscribe.
March 25, 2016 / Vol. 65/Nos. 11 Download .pdf document of this issue
- Leveling of Tuberculosis Incidence — United States, 2013–2015
- Tuberculosis Among Temporary Visa Holders Working in the Tourism Industry — United States, 2012–2014
- Photokeratitis Linked to Metal Halide Bulbs in Two Gymnasiums — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2011 and 2013
Infectious, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Seasonal Influenza
What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Influenza Season – (CDC)
Information for Health Professionals – (CDC)
Weekly Flu View – March 19 (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)
Travel Safety
Current Travel Warnings - March 22 (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: Opioid Pain Medicines: Drug Safety Communication - New Safety Warnings Added to Prescription Opioid Medications
FDA is warning about several safety issues with the entire class of opioid pain medicines. See the FDA Drug Safety Communication for a complete listing. These safety risks are potentially harmful interactions with numerous other medications, problems with the adrenal glands, and decreased sex hormone levels. We are requiring changes to the labels of all opioid drugs to warn about these risks.
NEW: Best Bentonite Clay by Best Bentonite: FDA Alert - Risk of Lead Poisoning
FDA laboratories have found elevated levels of lead in “Best Bentonite Clay.” Consumers should not purchase or use “Best Bentonite Clay.” Anyone who has used this product or given it to a child should consult a health-care professional immediately.
NEW: GlideScope Titanium Single-Use Video Laryngoscope by Verathon: Class I Recall - Potential Video Feed Disruption
A disrupted or unstable video image may lead to delayed tracheal tube insertion, intubation failure and other serious adverse health consequences, including low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia), end organ damage or death.
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.
The CDC and HHS logos are the exclusive property of the Department of Health and Human Services and may not be used for any purpose without prior express written permission. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organizations.
- Page last reviewed: January 21, 2016
- Page last updated: January 21, 2016
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