MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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1. Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Given the large and growing prevalence of arthritis and arthritis activity limitations among adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity, and arthritis-specific barriers to physical activity, health care providers and public health practitioners may address both arthritis and these other chronic conditions by prioritizing self-management education and physical activity interventions as an effective way to improve health outcomes (e.g., pain, function, quality-of-life) and reduce arthritis attributable activity limitations. Data collected from the 2010-2012 National Health Interview Survey found that 22.7 percent (52.5 million) of U.S. adults have arthritis and 9.8 percent (22.7 million or 43.2 percent of those with arthritis) reported arthritis attributable activity limitations.  About half of all adults with heart disease or diabetes had arthritis and more than a quarter of adults with either condition had arthritis attributable activity limitations. Almost a third of adults who were obese also had arthritis, and more than 15 percent of these adults had arthritis attributable activity limitations.

2. Multistate Outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni Infections Associated with Undercooked Chicken Livers — Northeastern United States, 2012

Robert Stirewalt
Public Information Officer
Office: 802-951-1276
robert.stirewalt@state.vt.us

The external and internal tissue of chicken livers is often contaminated with Campylobacter and the traditional practice of lightly cooking this food product is not sufficient in order for the livers to be made safe for consumption. Last year, an outbreak of campylobacteriosis in the northeastern United States was found to be associated with chicken livers from one poultry farm in Vermont. An investigation led by the Vermont Department of Health found that five residents from New Hampshire, New York and Vermont all became ill after eating chicken livers that were intentionally undercooked. One additional case became ill while working at the farm. Six cases in all were identified and all six recovered fully from their illness. In response to the investigation, the Vermont poultry farm voluntarily stopped selling chicken livers. This outbreak investigation emphasizes the risk associated with eating lightly cooked chicken livers, which are often contaminated with Campylobacter.

3. Youth Exposure to Alcohol Advertising on Television — 25 Markets, United States, 2010

David H. Jernigan, PhD
Director, Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth
Office: (410) 502-4096
djerniga@jhsph.edu

Alcohol advertisers should avoid placing ads on TV programs where over 30 percent of the viewers are underage, and use readily-available information on the make-up of local TV audiences to guide their purchasing decisions. Continued tracking and reporting of youth exposure to alcohol advertising is also needed to assure youths are not overexposed to alcohol advertising. In 25 of the largest U.S. television markets, almost 1 in 4 alcohol advertisements on a sample of 40 national TV programs popular with youth had underage audiences greater than 30 percent, exceeding the alcohol industry’s own voluntary standards, according to a study conducted by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the CDC.  The percentage of advertising that exceeded the industry standard varied from 31.5 percent in Houston to 16.3 percent in Washington, DC, reflecting differences in the number of underage viewers and the television viewing practices of youths in these cities. 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES