Synopsis for August 12, 2005

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Self-Reported Asthma Among High School Students ― United States, 2003
2. Human Rabies ― Florida, 2004
3. West Nile Virus Activity ― United States, 2005

Self-Reported Asthma Among High School Students ― United States, 2003

Asthma is a prevalent chronic health condition among high school students in the United States, with about 1 in 6 (16.1percent) reporting current asthma. A primary prevention strategy for asthma does not exist, but asthma can be controlled. Health care providers, schools, families, and public health practitioners need to be prepared to respond to asthma-related emergencies and to help students manage their asthma.

Asthma is a prevalent chronic health condition among high school students in the United States, with about 1 in 6 (16.1percent) reporting current asthma. More than one-third 37.9 percent of the students with current asthma reported having an asthma episode or attack during the 12 months preceding the survey. These findings illustrate the need for health care providers, schools, families, and public health practitioners to be prepared to respond to asthma-related emergencies and to help students manage their asthma.

Human Rabies ― Florida, 2004

Human rabies is preventable. Potential exposures to rabies need to be recognized so that appropriate medical consultation occurs in a timely manner.

Human rabies is preventable. Potential exposures to rabies need to be recognized so that appropriate medical consultation occurs in a timely manner. Any warm-blooded mammal is susceptible to rabies. The main global source of rabies in humans is from bites from rabid dogs. Travelers to areas with dog rabies should avoid interactions with dogs and seek appropriate medical care if they are bitten. Wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats are the main sources of rabies in the USA. Although there are thousands of rabies cases in animals in the USA and tens of thousands of potentially exposed humans, nearly all human cases are prevented due to excellent post-exposure prophylaxis. Because human rabies is rare, the diagnosis may not be considered in the differential of cases of rapidly fatal encephalitis. If antemortem testing has not occurred, post-mortem testing should be conducted in rapidly fatal cases with the suggestion of a viral etiology.

West Nile Virus Activity ― United States, 2005

No summary available.

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