Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z

CDC Media Relations
Media Home | Contact Us
US Department of Health and Human Services logo and link

Media Relations Links
• About Us
• Media Contact
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Media Site Map

CDC News
• Press Release Library
• Transcripts
• MMWR Summaries
• B-Roll Footage
• Upcoming Events

Related Links
• Centers at CDC
• Data and Statistics
• Health Topics A-Z
• Image Library
• Publications, Software and Other Products
• Global Health Odyssey
Find your state or local health department
HHS News
National Health Observances
Visit the FirstGov Web Site
Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394


MMWR
Synopsis for May 5, 2000

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.

  1. Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adults with Arthritis — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  2. Morbidity and Mortality Related to Hurricane Floyd — North Carolina, September–October, 1999
  3. Surveillance for Possible Estuary-Associated Syndrome — Six States, 1998–1999
  4. Update: Influenza Activity — United States and Worldwide, 1999–2000 Season, and Composition of the 2000–2001 Influenza Vaccine
 

MMWR
Synopsis for May 5, 2000

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adults with Arthritis — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are the leading cause of disability in the United States.

 

PRESS CONTACT: 
Fatima Mili, M.D., Ph.D.

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488–5319


Because arthritis and other rheumatic conditions seldom cause death but have a significant impact on health, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures are a better indicator of their impact than related mortality rates. This report examines data from 11 states that participated in the 1996-1998 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an ongoing state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey. Findings indicate that persons with arthritis have substantially worse HRQOL than persons without arthritis, regardless of sex, age, or education level. Among adults with arthritis, women, younger persons, and persons with less than a college education had the most unhealthy days. States and local health agencies can use data from the BRFSS and HRQOL measures to guide efforts in reaching the Healthy People 2010 goal — increasing the quality and years of healthy life for persons with arthritis.

 

Morbidity and Mortality Related to Hurricane Floyd — North Carolina, September–October, 1999

During or after natural disaster involving flooding, people should not drive through moving water on roads.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Karen Becker, D.V.M., M.P.H.

CDC, Epidemic Intelligence Service
(919) 715–7397
(North Carolina)

One September 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd made landfall in North Carolina. The amount of rain brought by this category 2 storm — combined with rains received from Hurricane Dennis 2 weeks earlier, and Hurricane Irene 1 month after Floyd — caused extensive flooding affecting an estimated 2.1 million people in eastern North Carolina. Of the 52 deaths, drowning was the major cause associated with this disaster; most of these deaths occurred because people drove their vehicles into moving water. Surveillance of injuries and illnesses collected from emergency room medical logs showed increases in thoughts of suicide, dog bites, febrile illness, basic medical needs, skin irritations, insect bites, diarrhea, violence-related trauma, and asthma. The development of surveillance systems is critical for effective disaster response and to prepare for future events.  

 

Surveillance for Possible Estuary-Associated Syndrome — Six States, 1998–1999

It has not been possible to establish an association between human illness and Pfiesteria piscicida with certainty because a Pp toxin has not been identified.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Amanda Sue Niskar, R.N., M.P.H.

CDC, National Center for Environmental Health
(404) 639–2530
Pfiesteria piscicida (Pp) is an alga that has been associated with fish kills in estuaries (where fresh water mixes with salty seawater) along the eastern seaboard, and possibly with human health effects. Since June 1, 1998, surveillance for possible estuary associated syndrome (PEAS), including possible Pp-related human illness, has been conducted in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. This report summarizes surveillance for PEAS during June 1, 1998 - December 31, 1999, which indicated no PEAS. PEAS is not infectious and has not been associated with eating fish or shellfish caught in waters where Pp has been found. However, persons should avoid areas with large numbers of diseased, dying, or dead fish and should promptly report those areas to the state’s environmental or natural resource agency.

 

Update: Influenza Activity — United States and Worldwide, 1999–2000 Season, and Composition of the 2000–2001 Influenza Vaccine 

The 2000-2001 influenza season will be the first season for which annual flu vaccination is recommended for all persons 50 years of age and older.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Timothy Uyeki, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P.

CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639–3747
Influenza activity in the U.S. was similar to the past two seasons although mortality measurements attributed to pneumonia and influenza were unusually high. Overall, this season’s flu vaccine was well-matched to circulating influenza viruses. The 2000-2001 influenza season will be the first season for which annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons 50 years of age and older. Persons at high-risk for complications of flu, who will be traveling this summer in large tour groups, should consult their physician about the advisability of receiving flu vaccine and antiviral medication against influenza. This is important if the group includes travelers from areas of the world where influenza is circulating, or if travel will be to the Southern Hemisphere and the tropics. Physicians evaluating such persons with respiratory illness should consider influenza in the diagnosis.

 

Media Home | Contact Us

CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed Friday, April 28, 2000
URL:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Communication