MMWR News Synopsis for January 7, 2016

 

Prevalence of Excess Sodium Intake — United States, 2009–2012

Note: The embargo for this article only will lift at 7:00 AM Thursday Jan. 7, at which time this article will be published online. All other content in this issue of MMWR remains under embargo until 1:00 PM Thursday Jan. 7.

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Most Americans continue to eat too much sodium. This study highlights the need for nationwide sodium reduction efforts and provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to advise patients on limiting sodium in their diets. New CDC research reveals nearly all Americans – regardless of age, race, gender, or whether they have high blood pressure – consume more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. This trend has remained consistent over the past decade. CDC researchers analyzed dietary data from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) to determine how much sodium Americans are eating. Most Americans eat too much. Over 90 percent of children aged 2 to 18 years, as well as 89 percent of adults aged 19 and older, eat more sodium than recommended in the newly released 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Evidence links excess sodium intake to high blood pressure and other health problems.

Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Three Zoo Elephants and a Human Contact — Oregon, 2013

Julie Sullivan-Springhetti
Communications Office
Multnomah County
503-709-9858
julie.sullivan-springhetti@multco.us

Captive elephants are a potential source of tuberculosis (TB) infection among humans who have close and prolonged contact with infected elephants. Better understanding of how TB is transmitted between humans and elephants could lead to better guidelines for preventing TB transmission in settings where elephants and humans routinely comingle. Collaboration between public health, veterinary medicine, and occupational health experts could help prevent elephant-to-elephant, elephant-to-human and human-to-elephant transmission. In May 2013, a 30-year-old Asian elephant at a zoo in Oregon’s Multnomah County tested positive for active tuberculosis. During the investigation, Multnomah County public health officials worked with the zoo to identify three bull elephants with active tuberculosis and 118 human contacts of the elephants. Ninety-six (81%) contacts were evaluated, and seven close contacts were found to have latent (asymptomatic, non-infectious) tuberculosis. The three bulls were isolated and treated to prevent infection of other animals and humans, and individuals with latent infection were offered treatment. Close and prolonged contact with the infected elephants was associated with TB transmission in this investigation.

 

QuickStats

• Percentage of Youths Aged 10–17 Years Who Did Not Receive a Well-Child Visit in the Past 12 Months, by Metropolitan Status of Residence — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2008–2014

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES