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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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Synopsis for November 15, 2002
The MMWR is embargoed until 12 Noon ET,
Thursdays.
- Influenza Outbreak -- Madagascar, July-August 2002
- Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Levels Among
Persons Aged 65 Years and Older -- United States, 2001
- HIV Testing Among Pregnant Women -- United States
and Canada, 1998-2001
- West Nile Virus Activity -- United States, November
7-13, 2002
Notice to Readers
The Use of Anthrax Vaccine in Response to Terrorism: Supplemental
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Contact: Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 6393286
| Telebriefing for November
14, 2002 |
| WHO: |
Jim Singleton, CDC influenza and pneumococcal
vaccine expert |
| WHAT: |
To discuss influenza and pneumococcal vaccine
rates among older persons in the United States. Brief remarks
followed by Q/A. |
| WHEN: |
Thursday, November 14, 2002; NOON ET |
| WHERE: |
At your desk, by toll-free conference line: Dial
866-254-5942
Teleconference name: CDC |
| A full transcript will be available
today following the teleconference and this teleconference
will also be audio webcast. Access both at http://www.cdc.gov/media/. |
|
Synopsis for November 15, 2002
Influenza Outbreak -- Madagascar, July-August 2002
A large influenza outbreak in southeastern Madagascar caused
thousands of respiratory illnesses and hundreds of deaths, primarily among
persons living in remote highland villages.
PRESS CONTACT:
Timothy Uyeki, MD, MPH, MPP
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639-0277 |
|
A large influenza outbreak occurred in southeastern Madagascar during July
and August with thousands of respiratory illnesses and hundreds of deaths
reported. The most affected persons were those living in remote highland
villages. Nearly all deaths occurred far away from healthcare facilities.
Madagascar is the worlds 4th largest island country and one of the
poorest countries in the world. An investigation by a team from the World
Health Organization and CDC concluded that the outbreak was attributed to
influenza A (H3N2) viruses. The influenza virus strain associated with
this outbreak is similar to strains that have been circulating worldwide
for several years. This seasons 2002-03 U.S. influenza vaccine includes
a similar strain to the one that caused this outbreak.
Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Levels Among
Persons Aged 65 Years and Older -- United States, 2001
Vaccination can help protect persons 65 and older from influenza and
pneumococcal disease, two of the most important causes of death among
older Americans.
PRESS CONTACT:
James Singleton
CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639-8848
(Alternate: John Moran, MD, MPH, same phone number) |
|
A recent analysis of data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System showed that influenza vaccination is only reaching two-thirds of
people 65 and older who would benefit from it and that coverage dropped
slightly between 1999 and 2001, probably because of the delays in
distribution of influenza vaccine in 2000. Pneumococcal vaccination
coverage is even lower, only about 60 percent in 2001, but that was a gain
of 6 percent from 1999 rates. Coverage of both vaccines was lower among
African Americans and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites. Continued
efforts to improve immunization rates, especially among minority
populations, will be necessary to reach the Healthy People 2010 coverage
objectives of 90 percent for both vaccines among persons 65 and older.
HIV Testing Among Pregnant Women -- United States and
Canada, 1998-2001
A new CDC review of studies on prenatal HIV testing in the U.S. and
Canada found that high rates of testing can be achieved under several
different approaches.
PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communication
CDC, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention
(404) 639-8895 |
|
Testing rates of 85-98 percent were reported in areas with voluntary
"opt-out" testing routine HIV testing in which women are
given the option to decline. Likewise, the two states with mandatory
newborn testing laws demonstrated similar prenatal testing rates between
81-93 percent. Voluntary "opt-in" testing which offers women
the option of adding an HIV test to their routine battery of tests
demonstrated a wide range of testing rates (between 25-83 percent), and
authors note that, overall, opt-out and mandatory testing options are
associated with higher testing rates than opt-in. The review affirms the
importance of HIV testing during pregnancy to ensure the mother and child
fully benefit from therapies to prevent and treat HIV infection, and
emphasizes the need for routine standardized monitoring to better assess
prenatal testing rates in the United States.
West Nile Virus Activity -- United States, November
7-13, 2002
PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 639-3286 |
|
Summary Not Available.
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