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| Press Summaries | |
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MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday. |
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Click here for MMWR home page. Synopsis February 26, 1999 Adverse Events Associated with Ingestion of
Gamma-Butyrolactone -- Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, 1998-1999 |
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| PRESS CONTACT: W. Randolph Daley, D.V.M., M.P.H. CDC, National Center for Environmental Health (770) 488-7350 |
GBL is marketed as a dietary supplement and sold in health food stores nationwide. In the body, GBL is changed to Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a drug whose toxic effects are well known. The reported effects of GBL are similar to those of GHB and include unconsciousness, respiratory problems, slowing of the heartbeat, confusion, and vomiting. From October, 1998 through January, 1999, cases of poisoning involving GBL have been identified from many states including Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas. In response to reported adverse events involving GBL, the Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers to recall GBL-containing products. GBL is marketed under various trade names including "Revivarant", "RenewTrient", and "Blue Nitro". |
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Decline in Cigarette Consumption Following Implementation of a Comprehensive Tobacco
Prevention and Education Program -- Oregon, 1996-1998 Oregon study suggests that a cigarette tax increase combined with a statewide tobacco prevention program can be very effective in reducing smoking. |
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| PRESS CONTACT: Michael P. Eriksen, Sc.D. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488-5493 or Barbara Pizacani, M.P.H. Oregon Health Division (503) 731-4273 |
A new study released by the Oregon Health Division and the CDC shows that a voter-approved measure to increase cigarette excise taxes and to implement a new tobacco prevention program reduced cigarette consumption by 11.3 percent (between 1996-1998). The latter reversed a 4-year period of increasing consumption prior to implementation of the measure. The cigarette excise tax was increased from $.30 per pack to $.68 per pack. In addition to Oregon, both California and Massachusetts have sustained significant declines in tobacco use following implementation of statewide tobacco prevention and education programs. |
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Neighborhood Safety and the Prevalence of Physical Inactivity -- Selected States, 1996 This report highlights the need to improve neighborhood safety to promote physical activity. |
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| PRESS CONTACT: Dexter (Bo) Kimsey, Ph.D., M.S.E.H. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 488-5820 |
The analysis of data from the 1996 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 5 states (Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) shows that the number of physically inactive persons increases as perceived neighborhood safety declines. Nearly two-thirds of adults 65 years of age and older, who indicated that their neighborhood was unsafe, were physically inactive. There are many barriers to physical activity, however, neighborhood safety has not received much attention and may be particularly important for older adults. |
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| Notice to Readers: | "Recall of Tripedia Vaccine" |
| On January 27, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration announced a voluntary recall of Tripedia diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (lot number 0916490). The vaccine is manufactured by Pasteur-Merieux Connaught, USA. Stability testing indicated that the potency of the diphtheria toxoid in the vaccine in this lot was below specification. | |
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| MMWR Surveillance Summaries | |
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"Malaria Surveillance -- United States, 1995" CDC received reports of 1,167 cases of malaria with onset of symptoms dur-ing 1995 among persons in the United States or one of its territories. This number represents an increase of 15% from the 1,014 cases reported for 1994. P. vivax, P. falci-parum, P. malariae, and P. ovale were identified in 48.2%, 38.6%, 3.9%, and 2.2% of cases, respectively. More than one species was present in three patients (0.3% of total). The infecting species was not determined in 80 (6.9%) cases. |
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