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PRESS CONTACT: Roland Sutter, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M. CDC, National Immunization Program (404) 6398252 |
In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis globally by 2000. The evidence is accumulating that the
transmission of one of the three wild poliovirus types (i.e., type 2) may have already been interrupted. Since the last reported case of polio
caused by wild poliovirus type 2 in India (late 1999), no further type 2 cases have been reported from any WHO region, despite improving
surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). AFP surveillance is supported by a global network of 148 accredited laboratories. During 2000,
this network processed approximately 50,000 stool specimens identifying 434 wild poliovirus type 1 isolates, 233 wild polio virus type 3 isolates,
and 7 mixed types 1 and 3 isolates. The apparent interruption of wild poliovirus type 2 transmission represents a historic milestone that will
energize efforts toward the eradication of poliovirus types 1 and 3.
Parents and physicians should routinely discuss the child's nutritional needs and dietary intake to ensure that dietary requirements are being met.
PRESS CONTACT: Shanna Nesby-O'Dell, D.V.M., M.P.H. CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (770) 4885957 |
Rickets was reported in a child receiving an unfortified soy beverage and kwashiorkor (severe protein deficiency) was reported in a child
receiving a rice beverage. In response, Georgia and CDC health officials initiated a review of Georgia hospital discharge data (Jan 1997-June
1999) to identify additional cases. The investigation revealed six children with vitamin-D deficient rickets and three children with protein
energy malnutrition. While no additional cases were associated with the use of milk alternatives, officials noticed that all the children with
rickets were African-American, and they were all breast-fed for more than 6 months without receiving routine vitamin-D supplementation. Parents
and physicians should discuss the child's dietary intake to ensure that a child's nutritional needs are met.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of acute respiratory tract infections among school-aged children.
PRESS CONTACT: David Shay, M.D., M.P.H. CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases (404) 6393972 |
M. pneumoniae is a common cause of pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and similar diseases among children. CDC is able to provide
laboratory and epidemiologic assistance to local, state and territorial health departments in investigations of outbreaks of respiratory disease
of unknown etiology. Community-wide outbreaks of acute respiratory illnesses of unknown etiology can be investigated by using a number of methods
at CDC, including tissue culture, serological tests, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. In the outbreak described in this report,
these methods implicated M. pneumoniae as the etiologic agent of a large number of pneumonia cases in Moffat County, Colorado.
CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z This page last reviewed Friday, March 30, 2001 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |