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Div. of Media Relations
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MMWR
Synopsis for November 3, 2000

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

  1. State-Specific Prevalence of Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and the Proportion of Adults Who Work in a Smoke-Free Environment — United States, 1999
  2. Update: Outbreak of Rift Valley Fever — Saudi Arabia, August– October 2000
  3. Progress Toward Interrupting Indigenous Measles Transmission — Region of the Americas, January 1999–September 2000

Notice to Readers

CDC Contract for Additional 9 Million Doses of Influenza Vaccine for the 2000-01 Season

CDC has contracted with Aventis-Pasteur, Inc. (Av-P) for the production of 9 million doses of flu vaccine. Av-P will give first priority to filling orders from providers who plan to vaccinate a high proportion of high-risk persons. Information about the application process and vaccine availability is available online at http://www.vaccineshoppe.com. Additionally, CDC’s National Immunization Program has developed a website to provide information about the availability of flu vaccine from manufacturers and wholesale distributors. The website address is http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu-vac-supply.

Contact: Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 639–3286


MMWR
Synopsis for November 3, 2000

State-Specific Prevalence of Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and the Proportion of Adults Who Work in a Smoke-Free Environment — United States, 1999

The wide variation among the states in current cigarette smoking prevalence shows that more effort is needed to reduce tobacco use.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Linda Pederson, Ph.D.

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion
(770) 488–5493
 

A new CDC study shows that state-specific smoking prevalence rates among adults for 1999 varied more than twofold, ranging from a low of 13.9 percent in Utah to a high of 31.5 percent in Nevada. The study also for the first time evaluates data from Puerto Rico and found that their adult smoking prevalence rates (13.7 percent) was lower than any of the 50 states. Data analyzed in 17 states and the District of Columbia showed that the proportion of adults who reported their workplace had an official smoke-free workplace policy ranged from 61.3 percent in Mississippi to 82.0 percent in the District of Columbia. The proportion of respondents who reported a smoke-free environment continues to increase. Implementing and properly funding proven comprehensive tobacco control strategies could cut smoking in half among all U.S. adults and can significantly reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

 

Update: Outbreak of Rift Valley Fever — Saudi Arabia, August– October 2000

The investigation into the first cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) on the Arabian peninsula continues.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations

CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 639–3286
 

As of October 26, 2000, in Saudi Arabia, 453 persons with severe suspected RVF requiring hospitalization have been reported from primary healthcare centers and hospitals. Of those 453 case-patients, 86 have died. The average age of case-patients who have died was 47 years; the youngest was 15 years. Most ill persons were Saudi citizens (81%); 18% were Yemeni citizens. RVF is a mosquito-borne disease that generally affects goats and sheep. People with the RVF may have no symptoms or experience an uncomplicated febrile (fever) illness. More severe complications include hepatitis, renal failure, hemorrhagic fever and death. Control and prevention measures for RVF are ongoing in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

 

Progress Toward Interrupting Indigenous Measles Transmission — Region of the Americas, January 1999–September 2000

In 1994, countries in the Region of the Americas set a goal of interrupting indigenous measles transmission by the end of 2000.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Linda Venczel, Ph.D.

Pan American Health Organization
(202) 974–3745
 

The Region of the Americas have dedicated health personnel, resources, and political support to both vaccination and disease surveillance. Following successful implementation of the recommended vaccination strategies and surveillance, from January 1999 through September 16, 2000, 28 (68%) out of 41 countries in the region, including Cuba, the English-speaking Caribbean countries, and most of Central and South American countries, reported no measles cases. From January 1 through September 16, 2000, 880 confirmed measles cases were reported, the lowest number recorded in any year during those weeks. Endemic transmission occurred only in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. The important progress to date indicates that the interruption of indigenous measles transmission in the Region of the Americas is within reach.


 

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