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| Div. of Media Relations 1600 Clifton Road
 MS D-14
 Atlanta, GA 30333
 (404) 639-3286
 Fax (404) 639-7394
 |  
|  |  |  |  
  Synopsis for February 22, 2002
The MMWR is embargoed until NOON, ET. 
Laboratory-Acquired Meningococcal Disease  United States, 2000Populations Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Public Drinking Water  United States, 2000The Socioeconomic Status of Women with Diabetes  United States, 2000 
 
| 
| Telebriefing, February 21, 2002 |  
| WHO: | Dr. William Maas, CDC water fluoridation expert and Dr. Gloria Beckles and Ms. Patricia Thompson-Reid, CDC diabetes
                  experts. |  
| WHAT: | To discuss articles in this week's MMWR on water fluoridation and diabetes, respectively. Brief remarks
                  followed by Q/A. |  
| WHEN: | Thursday, February 21, 2002; 12 Noon  12:30 PM ET |  
| WHERE: | At your desk, by toll-free conference line: Dial 866-254-5942 Teleconference name: CDC
 |  
| A full transcript of this teleconference will be available today following the teleconference on the CDC
                  website at www.cdc.gov/media. This teleconference will also be audio webcast. Listen LIVE online at www.cdc.gov/media. |  |  Synopsis for February 22, 2002Laboratory-Acquired Meningococcal Disease  United States, 2000Laboratory workers need to be aware of their increased risk of meningococcal disease in the laboratory setting.
 
 
Infection by Neisseria meningitidis in the course of laboratory work represents a significant occupational hazard to microbiologists.
      This data suggests that both the attack rate and the overall case-fatality rate of meningococcal disease among microbiologists in the United
      States were significantly higher than that in the general population. This report presents two probable cases of fatal laboratory-acquired
      meningococcal disease. Prevention of this disease among microbiologists includes minimizing the risk for exposure to aerosols and droplets, and
      strict adherence to these safety precautions. Primary prevention should focus on laboratory safety; however, vaccination of microbiologists may
      be used as an adjunctive measure.
| PRESS CONTACT:James J. Sejvar, MD
 
 CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
 (404) 6390887
 |  |    
 Populations Receiving Optimally Fluoridated Public Drinking Water  United States, 2000There is considerable need, as well as opportunity, for additional communities to implement water fluoridation.
 
 
This report provides the most recent information on the status of water fluoridation by States. Between 1992 and 2000, the percent of the U.S.
      population receiving fluoridated water increased from 62.1 percent to 65.8 percent, bringing the total U.S. population receiving fluoridated
      water to 162 million. The Healthy People 2010 national health initiative has set an objective for 75 percent of the U.S. population on
      public water systems to receive fluoridated water. Between 1992 and 2001, five additional states (Delaware, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska and
      Virginia) achieved the Healthy People objectives, and Oklahoma was close (74.6 percent) to achieving this goal. Twenty-six states and the
      District of Columbia have now met this objective. State-specific percentages range from 2 percent to 100 percent of persons on public water
      systems that receive optimally fluoridated water.
| PRESS CONTACT: William Maas, D.D.S, M.P.H.
 
 CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
 (770) 4885301
 |  |   
      
 The Socioeconomic Status of Women with Diabetes  United States, 2000Many women with diabetes live in socioeconomic circumstances that limit their ability to receive treatment to
      reduce their risks of complications and early death.
 
 
Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System indicate that women with diabetes are twice as likely as women without diabetes to live
      in poor socioeconomic circumstances. In 2000, 1 in 4 women with diabetes had not completed high school and 40% lived in households with annual
      income less than $25,000.These estimates remained unchanged after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and living arrangements (marital status,
      size of household, employment status). The findings suggest that the socioeconomic circumstances of a large number of women with diabetes might
      compromise their ability to benefit from treatments now available to reduce their risks of complications and early death. CDC has initiated
      several activities that focus on the needs of women with diabetes.
| PRESS CONTACT: Gloria Beckles, M.D., MSc.
 
 CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
 (770) 4881272
 |  |    |