Synopsis for August 24, 2006

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EST.

1. Advance Cases of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis – Two Counties, Virginia 2006
2. Distribution of Insecticide – Treated Bednets During a Polio Immunization Campaign – Niger, West Africa 2005
3. National Laboratory Inventory for Global Poliovirus Containment – European Region, June 2006

Advance Cases of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis – Two Counties, Virginia 2006

Severe cases of “black lung” continue to occur in the United Stats.

 A recent survey conducted by NIOSH identified 11 cases of severe pneumoconiosis among coal miners in Lee and Wise Counties, Virginia. This number is at least twice the expected prevalence of advanced pneumoconiosis, given current permissible exposure limits for coal mine dust. These findings points out the importance of continuous and vigorous attention to effective dust control in coal mining. 

Distribution of Insecticide – Treated Bednets During a Polio Immunization Campaign – Niger, West Africa 2005

No Summary Available 

National Laboratory Inventory for Global Poliovirus Containment – European Region, June 2006 

Containment of facility based polioviruses is an important component of the polio eradication initiative.  Successful completion of Phase I in the WHO European Region demonstrates the feasibility of containment. 

Inadvertent release of poliovirus from a facility into the population once the virus has been eradicated and immunization against polio stopped could have devastating implications. Therefore it is critical to carefully plan and implement laboratory containment measures. The 52nd World Health Assembly passed a resolution urging all member states to begin the process leading to the laboratory containment of wild poliovirus.   The national containment process begins with a survey of all biomedical facilities, called “Phase I - laboratory survey and inventory.” The purpose of the survey is to alert institutions and facilities to the upcoming need for containment, encourage reduction of unneeded wild poliovirus materials, and develop a national inventory of facilities holding such materials.  WHO initiated the containment process in the European region in 1999, and provided significant technical direction and assistance to countries implementing Phase I containment processes.  By March 2006, the 52 EUR Member States had surveyed 55,748 laboratories. Twenty-five countries, mostly in Western Europe, reported that no facility holds wild poliovirus infectious or potential infectious materials. In June 2006, the European Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication accepted the EURO containment report and declared Phase I complete in the WHO European Region.

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This page last reviewed November 9, 2006

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