MMWR News Synopsis for July 9, 2015

 

Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations — United States, 2013

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

In every state in the U.S., fewer than 1 in 5 adults are consuming enough fruits and vegetables. The latest U.S. data shows that fewer than 1 in 5 adults in every state are consuming enough fruits and vegetables. Estimates ranged from 8 percent meeting fruit recommendations in Tennessee to 18 percent in California and from 6 percent meeting vegetable recommendations in Mississippi to 13 percent in California. Adults should eat one and a half to two cups of fruit and two to three cups of vegetables each day. Meeting these recommendations may protect against many serious illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Fruits and vegetables are major contributors of important under-consumed nutrients; eating them instead of higher calorie foods can help manage body weight. Substantial new efforts are needed to build consumer demand for fruits and vegetables through competitive pricing, placement, and promotion in child care, schools, and communities.

Community Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Ebola Virus Disease — Five Counties, Liberia, September–October, 2014

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Communication efforts to improve Ebola awareness and to address specific fears, misperceptions, and practices are needed to facilitate community engagement and to interrupt Ebola virus transmission. Local cultural practices and beliefs related to Ebola have presented challenges to controlling the current outbreak in West Africa. Community engagement is an important component of Ebola control. Early in the epidemic, Ebola awareness was widespread within communities in Liberia, based on a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey. However, differences were observed between counties based on Ebola incidence. Areas of concerns include large numbers of participants not being confident with Ebola symptom identification and existing fears of Ebola survivors and of Ebola treatment units. Survey findings could be used to inform ongoing health awareness and messaging to address specific fears, misperceptions, and practices regarding Ebola. This study might offer useful insight for other countries during Ebola containment efforts.

Announcement

Recommendation Regarding Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control — Community Preventive Services Task Force

QuickStats

Annual Birth Rates, by Marital Status — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1980–2014

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES