MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

(Box) Workers’ Memorial Day — April 28, 2008

PRESS CONTACT: Fred Blosser
CDC
NIOSH Public Affairs
(202) 245-0645

No summary available

Commercial Fishing Fatalities — California, Oregon, and Washington, 2000–2006

PRESS CONTACT: Fred Blosser
CDC
NIOSH Public Affairs
(202) 245-0645

The Northwest Dungeness crab fleet had a greater number of fatalities and the highest fatality rate among the California, Oregon, and Washington commercial fisheries. Tailored prevention measures focusing on the hazards of the Northwest Dungeness crab fleet should be developed. The Pacific commercial fisheries off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington had a work-related fatality rate, combined, that was 68 percent greater than the average fatality rate of the U.S. commercial fishing industry as a whole in 2000-2006, and twice that of Alaska commercial fisheries for the same period. The Pacific fishery with the single highest rate was the Northwest Dungeness crab fishery. The fatality rates and other data suggest that safety interventions should be implemented, tailored to specific groups of vessels, with special emphasis on the Northwest Dungeness crab fisheries. Such interventions likely have contributed to a significant reduction of work-related fatalities in Alaska commercial fishing since 1991.

Oil and Gas Extraction Worker Fatalities — United States, 2003–2006

PRESS CONTACT: Fred Blosser
CDC
NIOSH Public Affairs
(202) 245-0645

A collaborative effort from industry and government agencies is required to improve safety for these workers. Employers should work with industry safety organizations and government agencies to promote employee seatbelt use while driving and consider engineering and process controls to remove workers from potentially dangerous machinery while drilling and servicing oil and gas wells. Increases in U.S. oil and gas extraction activity correlate strongly with increasing rates of fatal occupational injuries in this growing industry. Oil and gas extraction workers had an annual fatality rate of 30.5 per 100,000 workers (404 fatalities) during 2003–2006, approximately seven times the rate for all workers (4.0 per 100,000 workers). The high occupational fatality rate that has varied with the level of activity in the industry. This report examines and highlights that nearly half of all these fatal injuries were attributed to highway motor-vehicle crashes and workers being struck by machinery or equipment.

Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Unpasteurized Cheese — Illinois, 2006–2007

PRESS CONTACT: Melaney Arnold, Communications Manager
IL Dept of Public Health
(217) 558-0500
OR
Kimberly Parker, Communications Manager
IL Dept of Public Health
(312) 814-1577

Any unpasteurized dairy product can be a source of Salmonella infection. During March 2006-April 2007, an outbreak of Salmonella occurred in northeastern Illinois. A total of eight-five culture-confirmed patients were identified. The investigation identified an aged Mexican-style cheese (cotija) sold at a grocery store, made with unpasteurized milk from a local dairy farm, as the likely source of infection. The manufacturer of the cheese was not identified and public health authorities could not determine if the cheese was from a licensed source. Consumers are strongly warned against consuming illegally manufactured cheese. Legitimate, wholesome Mexican-style cheeses are available at retail stores and authenticated by label information including the name and address of distributor or processor. Public health authorities should be aware that illegally manufactured cheese could be sold at grocery stores, ensure dairy products are from an inspected manufacturer or distributor and recognized that aged Mexican-style cheese, not just fresh, can be a source of infection.

Availability of Cefixime 400 mg Tablets — United States, April 2008

CDC
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
News Media Line
(404) 639-8895

No summary available

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES